The topic of average students in school cracks me up because except for the valedictorian or salutorian, everyone else IS
average. By letting middle of the road students slide by, and reminding them that the glory can go to only a handful of students at a time, excelling seems useless.
It is only by the grace of exceptional teachers that good students learn at school. The "old-school" teachers are either dying or hopefully retiring, along with their ideals.
A huge problem waiting in the wings is with all of the students on Ritalin or other mood/emotional meds.
The answer seems to be medicate before you can educate.