"But, under Ron's system, we learned that you keep the lower performer who is more devoted to the company."

Children who score poorly on tests of cognitive skills before starting kindergarten are highly likely to be low performers throughout their school careers.

But under the grading system, managers are forced to identify some people as low performers.

In Maryland, 25 schools improved enough to exit the ranks of low performers.

After the individual challenge, all players voted for one of the lowest performers.

Another 10 percent had been designated as low performers.

But even some of the law's supporters are concerned about great schools being labeled as low performers this year.

And 40 percent of those retained eventually dropped out, compared to 25 percent of low performers not held back.

"Some of the other businesses we identified were very low performers," he said.

"A student with a hearing problem or a low performer who needs extra help will cost more than a high achiever," he explains.