Dear Yserbius,
Your current credibility rating on Lakewood is abysmal. Maybe the people <en>you know</en> have a hard time getting in to a mesivta with an English program. I know of one that does not have a full enrollment. Even more likely, finding a good enough well rounded mesivta is their problem.
That may help get you back on your soap box, but…………………
Probably not even one of these kids was heading to a decent level mesivta in eighth grade. And it has nothing to do with a lack of secular education. And everything to do with some social dysfunction.