As long as sports will have such huge role in schools in the USA, academics and knowledge will always come in second if at all. I've mentioned before that I grew up in central Europe and schools there had nothing to do with sports, other than PE classes twice a week and academics was everything. Especially since high schools are very selective. Kids play sports for fun but school and what they know always comes first over there. I don't think my parents ever understood me when I was a child but they knew I was gifted and never had to hide that from anyone. Living in the States now I couldn't dare to tell anyone that my just turned 3-year old loves reading through the 3rd grade word list! They would think I'm a monster and not a devoted mom frown