I agree with you on the idea of academic selection, but would perfer a more... ability-based track of education. I was certainly lowest common denominator in math/science, but above average in Literature and Art... Completely frustrating. Maybe allow the later grades (in America, high school) more freedom in selecting classes, or at least skill levels.

I actually had pretty good luck with math. In elementry school, my class was split up into three skill-based groups. In high school remedial and 'business' math was all I really had to take. But those kind of options weren't avaliable with everything, sadly.