In South Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India, tutorial schools use star tutors to attract even more students.

BBC: Meet the 'tutor kings and queens'

His proposal is similar to a system that Newark teachers agreed to last year, making teachers eligible for bonuses if they are star performers who teach in struggling schools or hard-to-staff subject areas.

WSJ: Thompson Proposes Plan for Teacher Merit Wages

From its humble beginnings in 1996 with one staff member working with three schools, The Black Star Project employed nearly 200 people (including full- and part-time staff, interns and consultants) in 2012 and works with thousands of schools with its various programs, campaigns, and initiatives.

WHITEHOUSE: Black Star

Finding a place for the former Ireland Schools and under-20 star was Kidney's major problem after the player showed his prowess in a number of positions.

BBC: Full-back Earls gets Ireland call

Frank Wilson, now the recruiting coordinator and running backs coach at LSU, said he has known Green-Ellis since he was athletic director for the New Orleans public schools and Green-Ellis was a high school star there.

WSJ: New England Running Back BenJarvus Green-Ellis Has Zero Fumbles in the NFL

In Chicago, The Black Star Project operates 20 Saturday University sites for 350 students in churches, schools, community centers, park district facilities and even one in a police station.

WHITEHOUSE: Black Star

Zara does not employ star designers but often unknowns, many of whom are recruited directly from top design schools.

ECONOMIST: Inditex

That's a job for our schools, but right now our children don't learn the words of "The Star-Spangled Banner, " let alone how a bill becomes a law.

NPR: Seeking Solutions for the Nation's Broken Schools

Sometimes, as this article by The Indianapolis Star points out, to the detriment of interest in high school football (where the chasm between public and private schools is the greatest because of the number of players needed to build a strong program).

FORBES: Ohio Could Excommunicate Catholic, Other Private High Schools From Public-School Competition