Maggie's Farm

This is interesting, but doesn't address the school environment.
I grew up in a community where the emphasis was on every kid who showed ability was to head off to - depending on talents - university or apprenticeship. We lived in a smelter town, and it was being rapidly recognized that the day of the labourer was coming to an end, and a kid needed some training. The labourer's kid was pushed to go on just as much as the executive's kid: Dad was a teacher and I remember the happiness when he heard that a labourer's son got a scholarship (parents were about to re-mortgage the house to give the kid a chance).
Spouse on other hand grew up in an environment where high school graduation was a luxury and the emphasis was on getting out and learning (usually informally) a trade. This was both family and high school. Spouse left high school without the credentials to continue further education but returned to get said credentials and subsequently obtained a tech school diploma. Only after we were married did he head back to university and obtain the degree (First Class to boot) which he needed to have the career he wanted.
Was first in his family on both sides to attain a university degree. Much later, heard from a cousin that one particular aunt took note and said to all her family something to the effect of "if he can do it, our family can". Her family by this time was all heavily married with children, but her grandbrats started hitting the academic circuit.