I do see in other boys a lack of care/the sense of entitlement already manifesting among DS's friends at infant school.
On the other hand, many, many of them are still lovely, sweet things who do look out for DS2 (they were all combing the softplay for him the other day - and pushing him up and down the roller coaster - even though he's a good 3-4 years younger than any of the boys and girls that were doing it). I've seen DS1 wander around hand in hand with other boys, DS2 (not quite 2) run up to hug someone who's upset, or be hugged and helped out by one of DS1's friends if he got upset
Both my boys are so different, but they both exhibit empathy (in different ways). If boys as a group don't exhibit empathy I feel it's because it's been trained out, because the vast majority of DS1's cohort at school still have it.
Although it could be that they have younger siblings and get yelled at to watchout more?
I also think that groups have personalities, and the personality of DS's school is a very family-style one, so perhaps it's also bringing it out in the kids.