The fact that some kids thrive outside the system doesn't prove the system is failing—it proves it's being pushed to accommodate more than it was originally built for.
The fact that the system is being pushed to accommodate more doesn't change the reality that kids are falling further behind, as shown by the pandemic's lasting impact. (https://cepr.harvard.edu/news/scary-truth-about-how-far-behind-american-kids-have-fallen)