Really excellent kids will really love these magnet and STEM programs or a top 100/200/300 USNWR high school and would likely hate being in a school without a significant AP/GT program and some like-minded academically oriented students.
Some parents will do anything to get their kids who are marginal in and keep them in, good for them. How are they really different than the endless postings about chances at Ivy Leagues (I have 1800 SATs but am really great, can I get in ?).
I find it odd that a student who now attends UChicago is now so negative about his top rated HS experience. Shame his parents didn’t move to a 3rd rate high school district, and there are way more of those than top rated schools.
The hyper competitive, anti-social, stressed out, lying, cheating, students are easier to avoid than the guy stealing your lunch money and the remedial students in all your classes who are preventing your teacher from teaching to your level.
80-90% of the kids at TJ probably belong there and are perfectly nice dedicated students.
And learning to deal with what will eventually be the pre-meds at your hypercompetitve U might be a good experience too.