{"id":274974,"date":"2025-09-30T17:42:48","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T14:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dana.nwar.uk\/sa\/inside-the-schools-that-want-to-break-americas-college-obsession\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T17:42:48","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T14:42:48","slug":"inside-the-schools-that-want-to-break-americas-college-obsession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hameed.nwar.uk\/sa\/inside-the-schools-that-want-to-break-americas-college-obsession\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside the Schools That Want to Break America\u2019s College Obsession"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When Sam Johnson said he didn\u2019t want to go to college after graduating from high school, his teachers didn\u2019t blink.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because Upton High School\u2019s guiding philosophy is that college isn\u2019t for everyone. Instead, the Wyoming school helps students tailor their education to one of three paths: college, military, or workforce. Since implementing the model eight years ago, school leaders are pleased to see that the focus on college is diminishing.<\/p>\n

In Upton\u2019s 2025 graduating class, nine students chose a four-year university, two chose a two-year community college, three chose trade school, four entered the workforce, and one entered the military. That\u2019s a wider variety of paths compared to six years ago, when none went to trade school.<\/p>\n

To prepare for his future, Johnson\u2019s career counselor helped secure him an apprenticeship with a hunting guide \u2014 his chosen occupation \u2014 so that he could work toward obtaining his license.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe called until somebody said yes,\u201d Johnson said of his counselor. \u201cI\u2019m super, super grateful, because now I know what I\u2019m doing after high school.\u201d Now 18, he\u2019s completed the necessary steps for certification. \u201cI\u2019m going in headfirst after high school into that job,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Sam\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n Sam Johnson has a postgrad job secured due to his hunting guide apprenticeship in high school.<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n

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Shane Epping for BI<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

School districts across the US are radically rethinking the college pipeline as student debt remains high, private education options are on the rise, and more young people are choosing to forgo the standard four-year college experience. Business leaders have also been increasingly questioning the value of college. Mark Zuckerberg said college isn\u2019t preparing students for the job market, and Palantir CEO Alex Karp said \u201cno one cares\u201d about elite education at his company. Peter Thiel\u2019s fellowship program offers $200,000 to \u201cyoung people who want to build new things instead of sitting in a classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Trump administration is also taking on the issue, calling for increased investments in trade schools. The White House\u2019s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said in a May interview with Fox News: \u201cApprenticeships, electricians, plumbers, we need more of those in our country, and less LGBTQ graduate majors from Harvard University. And that\u2019s what this administration\u2019s position is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, 63% of recent high school grads enrolled in college<\/a> in 2024, and that route is proven to lead to higher earnings. Upton, like other schools that spoke to Business Insider, isn\u2019t eschewing college altogether. In fact, part of the shift to personalized learning involves finding creative ways to ensure that students can still compete academically despite the school\u2019s rural location, said Superintendent Clark Coberly. For example, it partners with an outside education company for additional AP classes. Coberly said he \u201cwanted to be able to have those doors open for post-secondary education.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really wanted to commit to doing something that is more reflective of what society looks like today,\u201d Coberly said.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Sophie\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n Sophie Louderbeck\u2019s work experience at a day care shaped her decision to study elementary education in college.<\/figcaption><\/span><\/p>\n

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Ed Glazar for BI<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

Sophie Louderbeck was a 2024 Upton graduate who took advantage of the college path, but not before she got some real-world work experience. She was able to adjust her high school class schedule so she could work at a day care during the day to prepare to pursue her interest in elementary education.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey do such an amazing job where, if you want to go down one path, they\u2019re going to make it happen,\u201d Louderbeck, 19, told Business Insider. \u201cAnd if you change your mind, they\u2019re going to make that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n