[dforrestwilson1]

You could do hi-tech manufacturing with high school graduates if they actually studied a high-tech curriculum or had the opportunity to apprentice for 2-3 years.

College is not (and should not be) required for everyone who wants a decent middle class job.

[jitix]

That would probably require a major reform of the K-12 system, and also a cultural shift where people actually become interested in tech curriculum. And to do that STEM subjects need to be given importance at a very early stage.

[huehehue]

It might take longer than it needs to, but I see this happening eventually. As low-skill jobs are automated away and cab/truck drivers are replaced by self-driving vehicles, many people won't really have a choice but to become interested in tech curriculum.

Furthermore, I think that cultural shift is already happening. Computers aren't just for geeks and professionals anymore. The average user might not be thinking about how Snapchat's geofencing works when they take a selfie, but that can't be more than a few steps away.

[jdmichal]

Germany has been mentioned a lot here. Education is another place where the country is "ahead". Occupational schools and apprenticeships are a common higher education route. My understanding is that only people slotted for college get an abstract curriculum similar to what Americans would call "high school".

[aidenn0]

Many regions in Germany accomplish this through heavy uses of Tracking[1] which, regardless of your stance on it, is a political non-starter in the US.

One place I visited (it varies heavily with region), the students were sorted towards Gymnasium (college prep) or Realschule (ends at 10th grade with a sight towards job, apprenticeship, or further vocational training) around 3rd grade. Good luck implementing that in the US.