One contributor to this fact is that the country continues to be influenced by the British model of education where admission to these schools is highly selective (through exams) and elitist. With such a strong emphasis on the exam, certain children are put at a disadvantage. Those who cannot afford extra schooling, who don't have the support of their parents, need to work while attending school, etc... will have a harder time succeeding at the test as opposed to the privileged students who are wealthy and have the ability to climb the social ladder. While I realize that the use of strict and stringent standardized tests for admission to secondary school is used in a number of other countries, it is something that I personally do not agree with.
I like how in the US, if a child wants to or can, they have the opportunity and access to complete a secondary level education. There are no tests that dictate that the smartest kids go to certain schools and that others go to less 'smart' schools. While there is a difference between the types of school, like private or public, if a child wants an education, then they can have it. This is one of the most powerful and successful aspects of the US school system. We value education in the sense that we find it necessary to try and make sure that everyone who wants, has access to it.
What is more of a problem for the U.S., however, is the large disparities that exist among schools, especially in terms of funding and resources for students. It is common that wealthier families have access to better schools because they live in areas that are more affluent, and thus the property taxes fund the schools. In comparison, students living in areas where the residents are less well-off financially also attend schools with less financial resources. Due to the way U.S. public schools are funded, students in wealthier towns often have access to a better quality of education than those of lower socioeconomic status.
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