What is the bigger issue that tracking was designed to solve?

As promised, I am delving into my original brainstorm of possible research questions. The answer to this comes out of many conversations with my husband about general issues in the public education system. His basic theory is that public schools in the US are based on the idea that all students who are the same age learn at the same general pace. Not from day to day, but from year to year. His basic theory says that the US Department of Education assumes that all 7-year-olds are within a specific spectrum of learning, and all 17-year-olds are also within their own specific spectrum of learning for their age. The reason I believe the public schools operate on this assumption is simply volume. We (speaking as an educator in the public schools) need to account for the different learning styles of all of our students. The most effective way to reach the majority of students is to teach to the majority. Unfortunately, students who are at the extremes of the spectrum, whether the high or the low, do not experience schools catering to their learning pace.

Thinking about the issue with his basic theory brings a few thoughts to light

1) If you are a student in the extremes (learning pace or style), the public schools are probably not the most effective learning environment for you.

2) I am most concerned with public education, and the issues that affect the students and teachers therein.

3) In doing my research, I will most likely take out the students on the extreme extremes. I will need to find a way to determine who is at the extremes, and who will be appropriately serviced by the public schools.