@bm as someone who grew up here but exposed to Asia for a little bit ill say this:
for the most part the elementary-High school is def better. They were teaching calculus in 7th/8th grade there while we learn that in high school here and that too if you are considered "smart." There isn't a system that says you are smart so you are gifted or in accelerated program or you are you are in the special education class there it's sink/swim and parents prioritize their kid's education over their own careers and retirement.
But college education here is faaar elite and that's a hill I'll die on. We focus on innovation, research and pushing our kids to work in industries in college as interns without the care for GPA and that's why we lead in technology world wide. There the focus in college is repetition, research is minimal unless you are in a government college and with great network and higher education like phd.
Lastly as someone who tasted both countries I'll say this both have their advantages/disadvantages. I don't like the H1B program and I 100% agree with adding limitations to it. But people come here from all across the world because we provide accessibility and safety and accountability in our systems that are not there in those countries. Things as simple as giving the way to an ambulance or an emergency service is not there in those countries but somehow you giving right of the way to a local politician traveling is.