We can produce the best and the brightest.
How is it we allowed a system to come into existence to squash them?
The family is considering home schooling (are there still legal issues in California with home schooling?). If Sam stays in public school, his future may involve medication. Another way around this, and I think he is intelligent enough to pull it off, is to just parrot the approved lines. Once he graduates, tells the “teachers” to sod off.