Not at one school, but in one city school district. His teachers were very competent and taught him well.

Out of 4,300 seniors in the year 2002, how many National Merit Semi-finalists were there?
Out of 4,300 seniors in the year 2002, how many National Merit Finalists were there?
Out of 4,300 seniors in the year 2002, how many National Merit Scholarship winners were there?

Answer to all three questions: ONE, our son.

If you want my opinion, it is the PARENTS, not the schools, that fail the children. The parents just don't care.

Our son KNEW that his parents care. He grew up in a studious environment. Finally, and likely MOST IMPORTANTLY, our children were limited to TWO HOURS of television PER WEEK. Not per night, per week. If they wanted more TV, it was just too damned bad. My wife and I stuck to our guns.

During her first term in high school, our daughter was goofing off. Her grades showed it. She claimed to be doing her work, but the facts were otherwise. We GROUNDED her completely for six weeks until her grades improved. No telephone. No visits to or by friends. NOTHING but school and her room. She screamed like a stuck pig, but we prevailed. Her grades went from a 2.0 to a 4.0 in one grading period, and stayed there for the rest of high school. She is not attending college on a full scholarship. She has thanked us for our determination that she should succeed.