Is it a healthy attitude to want the child to be the top of the class?
Like anything else in life, there’s a balance.
There’s nothing wrong with setting high standards for your kids to aim for — including being top of the class.
OTOH, it is very wrong for a parent to obsess about it and berate the kid if s/he falls short.
My personal philosophy with my kids has always been that as long as I know they tried their hardest and put in the effort then I have no complaints.
If they try and try and try and really put the effort into a subject and come home with a 50 on a test because that’s the absolute best they can do for that material, then I have no complaints. OTOH, if the kid gets an 85 but barely studied and could have done much better — well, then, I’m not pleased at all.
The Wolf