My kids went to a private school that is made up of affluent kids and very smart educated, successful families…so a lot of kids are very smart and end up doing well. Even the jocks and popular kids.
In D’s class the head cheerleader does freelance costume design, makeup and set design for the school plays at many of the schools in our area. She is now married and has a kid and lives in Idaho and does the same thing there. Her husband works in tech.