Achievement gaps in kids have many causes which anybody can list. IQ is on the list, but not at the top although 50% of people have below average which could knock them out of the calculus game.
Personality traits, parental support, cultural ideals, cognitive issues, etc etc all play roles in how people do academically. And, of course, males do not do as well except at the top end.
At Quillette, Remedial Education for All. It's about "dumbing down."
As calls for equality of outcome gain steam and schools make plans to reduce educational gaps that have been exacerbated by 18 months of virtual learning, we’d do well to remember the predictable costs of pretending we can make everything fair. Mass education will never be a perfect fit for everyone. Schools have to identify the competencies and attitudes that are most valuable and optimize in a way that brings the most possible students to high, yet reachable standards. When high school students fall too far behind and decide they aren’t interested in catching up, they should be able to pursue a vocational track that pushes them to develop other meaningful skills. These students will be far more likely to apply themselves if we give them relevant options like work apprenticeships, trade programs, and so on.
Trades are not for low IQ. They are good for people who do not like regular school.
