I think that's a good idea. We could also do what my son's magnate high school does. The school boasts a STEM academy and an HSCA. Students graduate with a level of knowledge equal to a tech school or 2-year community college level.

For example, my son graduated with the full complement of EMS certifications and training required to immediately enter the county EMS academy (like the police academy but for emergency medical response). He started working for the county EMS as an EMT in the academy straight out of high school last year. He's also in the county apprenticeship program. That apprenticeship program pays him to work for the county while the county pays his continuing education to become a paramedic. He starts his paramedic training for summer term the end of May at the local community college. He'll be a fully certified and employed paramedic in around two years.

He'll graduate without student debt, and will have career centered work experience all along the way. Plus, when he graduates, he already has the job he's trained to do. He'll simply be promoted from EMT to paramedic.

Many of the students in the STEM academy went straight to work in NC's RTP for one tech company or another. Some went to the military on a path of further tech training there. Others went on to college with scholarships. In fact, the majority of STEM and HSCA students had immediate job placement and/or scholarships.

I know most kids graduate from high school rather adrift, heading off to college to start their training for the jobs they hope to have later. And, they work in retail or food service along the way until they've had some education in their field of choice. Then, they usually end up working as unpaid interns to get the experience in their field they will need to find an actual job after graduating – so they can begin to pay for all that debt they'll have accrued in hopes of getting that job.

It seems to me, it makes more sense to at least start kids' trainging in high school.