Answers:
Sadly, I do have information to support the gist of your theory but I am not at liberty to disclose it. (That sounds so cloak-and-dagger, but it's true). Unfortunately, there is a cycle that occurs. Affluent parents give the child every opportunity and experience in their early youth. They provide tutors and/or bully the school into giving the maximum amount of services, adjusting test grades, overriding course placements, etc.
In the end, the child lands in honors where he/she has a tough time cutting it. What does the family do? They actually support the cheating, often by justifying the actions!! "Oh, if Mr. ___ had given a better study guide you wouldn't have to do this, etc. " The child gets the message that cheating is OK.
Then, the stakes get higher with standardized testing, both to get into college and to (YIKES!) get professional licensure.
These same people go out into the business world and take these same ethics with them. Then they HAVE CHILDREN and the cycle continues....
This is not every honors student, nor every honors student in an affluent family. I know this for a fact, as well.