There are really academically strong public schools, and really good public school teachers and students. We have some in S.F. Bay area.
But there those schools are not good. Not nice to teachers and students. Students are miserable to the level of committing suicides. I would not dream of sending my child to one of them. That’s a major reason that we have been homeschooling.
My daughter would be miserable there even if she can handle the academic pressure, because she would be surrounded by miserable friends.