Inside the schools trying to break America's college obsession

"When Sam Johnson said he didn't want to go to college after graduating from high school, his teachers didn't blink. That's because Upton High School's guiding philosophy is that college isn't 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."

"In Upton's 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's a wider variety of paths compared to six years ago, when none went to trade school. To prepare for his future, Johnson's career counselor helped secure him an apprenticeship with a hunting guide - his chosen occupation - so that he could work toward obtaining his license."

""She called until somebody said yes," Johnson said of his counselor. "I'm super, super grateful, because now I know what I'm doing after high school." Now 18, he's completed the necessary steps for certification. "I'm going in headfirst after high school into that job," he said. 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."

Upton High School in Wyoming guides students into one of three postsecondary paths: college, military, or workforce. The model has been in place eight years and has reduced the singular focus on four-year college. In the 2025 graduating class, nine students chose four-year universities, two chose community college, three chose trade school, four entered the workforce, and one entered the military. Career counseling secured an apprenticeship for a student seeking to become a licensed hunting guide. Nationally, districts are rethinking the college pipeline amid high student debt, rising private education alternatives, and employer skepticism about the value of college.

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