<p>I think there’s something to be argued for school 1, because the students there are likely to be better prepared for college. The high school my kids attended really had the best of both worlds. It’s a big school, urban/suburban with kids of every ethnic variety and economic class. There are parents in our community that thinks it is scary, and there are kids who are not well served by it, but unlike your example, there are always a critical mass of high performing kids who attend very good colleges.</p>