Our rural Virginia papers also publish the “honor roll” lists from the local schools, no way do the numbers total 51% of the student population. There are 2 type lists - A/B Honor Roll (all subjects above 86) and Principal’s list which is Straight A (above 94) in everything including electives.
So your school systems are more realistic in their reporting of students' progress. Wish ours were. Ours are piled in one huge, non-identifying mess. Principals and administration staff can brag about their success on their resumes while the children's educations go to hell.