No Child Left Behind...

[un4]

At the high school I went to, you need 20 credits to graduate:

  4 English credits, including one senior english course
  3 Math
  3 Science
  2 Social studies
  2 Fine arts
  2 Foreign language
  1/2 Credit (semester) health course
  1/2 Credit government and politics
  1 PE credit (four semesters)
  2 General electives

To get these credits, you have to earn a C average or higher.  This demonstrates adequate proficiency in the subject to pass the class.

Why should a single exam prevent you from graduating if you fufill the requirements of one of the top hundred high schools in the nation?
 

[JohnnieRat]

The world needs ditch diggers too.
It's unfortunate but not every child can be a rocket surgeon and are destined (by laziness or bad genes) to not be as "successful" as their peers. It's life.
I don't necessarily agree with how schools separate the "gifted" kids from the other ones because it really does pigeon-hole kids at a rather early age on who's "smart" or not. Once it's optional in say High School I see it's purpose, but labeling kids as smarter than others early in elementary school is telling 9 year olds that they'll always be mediocre it seems. Let them develop for crying out loud.
(excessive use of quotes to avoid trying to define gifted or smart)