I can echo your observations on MCHS, I have a daughter going there, the kids still have the goals of going to work in the local factories. No real goals or push to be something better. I think much of that comes from home too, as well as being in the Bible belt, get out of school get a job start a family is the emphasis. My daughter jokes about the three P's, and that everything is good... She is passing, not on probation and not pregnant. In fact she is doing much more than that, the bulk of her class load is with honors classes, including a honors pre-calculus class.
I was born in Athens, but lived most of my life in California and have recently moved back to the area, what shock, well at least my kids have goals other than finding a man an just getting married... I know growing up in California, it was always finish high school and go to college as the next basic step, here it is hope to get through high school and then find a good factory job. It is really a shame.

John Plemons