Teaching Rote vs Encouraging Interest (Score 2, Insightful)

In my middle school we had a gifted program. The program separated the students into three categories: Gifted, Above Average, and Normal. Because of scheduling the History class was composed of Gifted and Normal (no Above Average). The Normals in that class did better at history than the Above Average in the other History classes. I should note that it was the students who figured this out, the Non-Gifted ones at that.

The conclusion was that interest, more than anything, governed success and the enthusiasm and interest of the Gifted had infected the Normals. Allocating resources will only go so far but spreading interest will do more. Sadly NCLB leaves little room for a teacher to do so.