Average Goal

When did we decide that average should be our goal? I'm looking at an educational path for my son that would push him to becoming the best. I'm being told that I shouldn't go this path because the kids in that school are "socially backwards". While I'm going through my education decisions, this article came out - http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101207/ts_alt_afp/educationusoecd . This leads me to ask when did our goal become to just be average, and is average good for you?