[malfist]

Higher education is the most potent tool for breaking the cycle of poverty. Your plan would lock people into the cycle of poverty for generations.

Besides, how do you even define "best student". One that scores the highest on the SATs and has the highest high school grade? There's so much more to being a good learner than having the opportunity to get high grades and high test scores.

[WalterBright]

SAT scores are excellent predictors of success in college.

The triad top colleges look for:

1. SAT score

2. high school grades

3. evidence of being a self-motivated person

[consensus1]

It's the opposite. Gatekeeping employment on that stupid credential is the best way to keep people in poverty.