You are not invited

This week is Parent Conferences at my daughters' school.  One would think "oh good".  Not so fast.
I emailed the homeroom teacher to say I did not receive my sign-up sheet to make an appointment.  She replied me to say - conferences are only for the kids who are failing or not doing well.  Oh, but if I insist on one they will accommodate me. 
Coming from the laa laa land of homeschooling is a tough adjustment on many levels.  I am not encouraged to meet with my child's teachers because she is doing well (honor roll). To me it sounds like we are being punished for doing what we are supposed to be doing.  During class time, the students who are behind get more attention and now for conferences they get all the attention.
I just do not understand the logic behind many decisions that are made in the school.  What happened to rewarding the students who did well?  What is wrong with letting the kids who are not doing well see what they have to strive for?
I remember going to school in Jamaica where a list of students was posted outside the classroom at the end of the term.  This list had the students in order of how well they performed.  Someone came first and someone came last.  You were motivated to be in the top ten because everywhere you went, you would be asked "where did you come in your class?"
I try not to constantly make comparisons to homeschooling, but they (the school administrators and district administrators) make it tough.