[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.