Yeah, I know what you mean and I agree. Pass rates for ABA grads tend to be significantly higher, with a few exceptions. For example, we have a couple of Calbar accredited law schools whose pass rates are pretty much equivalent to T3/T4 ABA schools. Also, out of state ABA grads tend to have relatively low pass rates, even from respected schools.
This is something I've wondered about:
In my graduating class, I think probably 95% of the class took a bar prep course. Maybe even 100%, I'm not sure. But in someplace like, say South Carolina or Arkansas where the pass rates are higher and the exam is shorter, do plenty of folks just study on their own? Or at this point does pretty much everyone at least take an online BARBRI course?