Re: Math, chemistry, engineering?
Just out of my own observation, if you want to see someone who gives a rip about their kids' education, look at an immigrant.
I was tagged as one of the "brains" in my school. And yeah, it wasn't all that cool. It probably wasn't all that cool when my Dad was in high school. It was particularly weird because my grades weren't that spectacular, so I got the label without the benefits. As a bit of a happy loner, it didn't bother me that much, and I had fun hanging with the other brains. Most of whom actually were straight-A students.
My answer for constructing a workable education system is the same as for many other issues we're dealing with. Choice and competition.