I'm very happy with my son. He's doing a skilled trade at BOCES (welding). And while it's still early, he absolutely loves it and has already done a couple of projects that his teacher selected him for that only one student got selected for.
On top of that, his high school was closed yesterday, and released early today due to a bomb threat. Meaning he did not have to go to BOCES either day because his BOCES is in the afternoon, even though it was in session both days. However both days, he has gone, because he can if BOCES is open even if his district isn't. Yesterday finding a ride, and today had me drive him because I was off today. Not many 16 year olds would volunteer to go to a portion of school when they didn't have to.
He's a good kid, does ok in school but he's not sure college is for him. So I'm very happy he's found something that he really enjoys so far, that he can go into, make good money and honestly there is a large need for skilled trade in this country. And I'm certainly not going to force college on him with the current cost, and a lot of degrees going "unused".