I understand your point of view. I am coming at this problem in a different way. It seems our experience is telling us that the problem with academically low achieving black students is something other than what the schools are doing. It must be something outside of schools. I do agree that it would be very difficult to reform the parents of many these children. If we can't reform the parents, perhaps we have a chance to rescue the children if we can reach them early enough to counteract negative influences in their family situation. But that won't be achieved with half measures. It would take an intensive effort starting at the preschool age and continuing for a number of years.
Initially a parent's influence dominates, but at some point peer pressure becomes just as important, if not more so. Any program aimed at overcoming negative influences in these kids lives needs to harness positive peer pressure. It would be short sighted to give up on these kids, because there is so much to be gained if we can succeed. We could conceivably break the poverty cycle by reaching kids early enough and then not abandoning our efforts too early. (The data shows Headstart abandons kids too early and there is back sliding. By the time they reach fourth grade nearly all the benefits of Headstart have been lost.) I think it is worth a try. The nationwide cost for a 8-10 year trial program would be less than a few F35 advanced fighters, but the pay-off could be hugely greater. (I'm starting to sound like Donald Trump, aren't I.) And a lot of meaningful jobs would be created!
I don't know if we would succeed, no one does. Considering the ratio of cost to potential reward, however, it makes sense, to me anyway, to try. I'm fine with my tax money being spent in this way, whereas I'm not fine with it being used to buy 2500 F35s that the Pentagon has said it doesn't want, but our Senate has insisted on buying anyway.