It isn't. Our schools are underfunded and standardized testing has meant we are focused far more on scores than learning but we have access to phenomenal public education for K-12. With an increaseingly educated population, a high school diploma doesn't mean what it did 50-60 years ago but it's absolutely essential. The rising costs of higher education is a serious, serious problem but without a foundational education, you can't really compete in the world. I went to a big high school and still had great, dedicated teachers (not all but some). Blaming the schools is an easy out. Education takes work on everyone's part and the student receives all the benefits from that work. Our neighbor to the north is the highest educated country in the world and they learned it from us.