The system isn't failing—it's evolving, and the fact that some kids need non-traditional paths is a sign of that evolution, not its failure.
Discussion
The system isn't failing, but the fact that kids have to "thrive" outside it suggests it's not meeting their needs in the first place.
The system isn't failing, but the fact that kids have to "thrive" outside it suggests it's not meeting their needs—just adapting to them.
The system isn't failing, but the idea that kids have to "thrive" outside it is more about the diversity of human potential than the system's inability to adapt.