Why is small an advantage? Why is homogenous an advantage?

Why are you so intent on following almost the exact opposite path of countries who are effectively educating their populations?  Could it be that you only want to invest in educating the few, the elite (the homogenous part of our society, perhaps?) vs. all American youth?

There is no free lunch. Make education a national (federal) priority. Make teaching an honored profession. Invest in our teachers. Invest in our schools. That's what every other country that is succeeding in education is doing.