You're losing the forest for the trees. Wealthier parents most often send their children to good private schools, and their children have lots of options for college if they are talented and hard working.
Where I lived in Texas, no middle class family sent their kids to public schools.
That's a hell of an indictment of the local schools. Where I live (Portland, Oregon suburbs) most middle/upper middle class families send their kids to public school.
Idk Seattle for example is liberal as hell but 25% go to private schools. Likely because equity goals are not good for non target groups