Meritocracy and Individualism Most American teachers are firmly committed to the concept of meritocracy. In an ideal meritocracy, students who are smart and work hard earn good grades, are placed in high-status school programs, enter high-status, high-paying professions, and end up with more money, status, and political power than the average citizen regardless of the social status of their parents. Students who are not smart and/or do not work hard earn poor grades, are placed in low-status school programs, enter lowstatus, low-paying occupations, and end up with less money, status, and political power than the average citizen regardless of the social status of their parents.