Interesting discussion. We has 2 of our guys adopted from Ethiopia. They attended what is usually described as both the best HS in the state and Baseball state champs( until we took them apart, but I digress).
They both got straight A's at this HS to my complete chagrin. We complained and were told they were doing great. I disagreed and sent them both to a smaller Private Christian HS in a lower level baseball class.
They were asked to really work and had a hard time for a while, but they are much improved academically and lettered in Cross country and baseball as Freshmen.
They of course would rather attend the cooler school where they are passed along. But since it is not a democracy they are actually learning things that will allow them to succeed later in life.