<p>I think that rather than add to the stress level of the students, the way D’s school handles it actually CUTS stress.
Because kids start exploring career ideas in a no-stress, law-key way early, they aren’t feeling pushed or compelled to make decisions they don’t understand. By the time they needs to start making college lists, they already have an idea of costs, majors, the courses they’ll need-so you probably won’t find them on CC begging for suggestions about colleges or what to do next. </p>
<p>But as for the suggestion about vocational options, well, yes, those should be considered, and they are. Just as are other post-high school options such as military service, HBCU’s, going to community college and transferring, even starting college early and combining the last year of high school with the first year of college (as at Bard).</p>
<p>I did not get the sense that the OP was asking about how to push “college for all” but how to interest kids in aiming higher than is traditional at her school. That is what my D’s school does. Of the three graduating classes so far, most have gone on to some form of higher ed, even a few who planned to just go to work like their parents before them. Because the kids have learned about the true cost of college, they were able to land in places they can afford. The school even helps with ESL families and the language barriers.</p>
<p>As the founder of our school recently said, vocational education is fine as long as that’s what the student wants. It shouldn’t be assumed that a low-income, minority or ESL student would be better off on that path, which is not an uncommon suggestion in some schools for these students. Instead of pressuring them to go in any direction, we give them the tools to choose their own.</p>