Agreed

Unfortunately, there are schools where an overwhelming number of students are not prepared adequately to succeed at ND. Of course, there are always outliers, so we typically would not want to avoid a school categorically (unless, for example, the HS football coach is actively working against ND).

It isn't just bad luck that we virtually never contend for recruits from a number of top prep programs, such as Cleveland Glenville, Camden (NJ) High, Miami Northwestern (or Central), Belle Glade, Glades Central, Pahokee, Indianapolis Lawrence Central and Warren Central (Sheldon Day being a notable exception), Houston North Shore and Dominguez (CA), among many others. I don't think it's for lack of trying, even though it's fair game to question the effort of the ND coaches on the recruiting trail at times.