There may be some pressure for this, but in most high schools in America it simply isn't needed. You can get A's and B's mostly by showing up if you are reasonably intelligent. Even getting all A's wasn't that difficult.
but getting into college isn't hard either. Unless you are shooting for Harvard it's just not. They are businesses that like to make money. They want to take your money.
They because myopic, weaker from vitamin D deficiency and still do not learn anything (adult would consider) useful.