What if I told you that in the Eastern Bloc many of the high schools used to be professional. In those schools you’d study most of the standard arts and science subjects, but also professional subjects like machining, automotive (mechanic, driver), construction, engineering, programming, agriculture, textile, food production, and many more. They used to produce ready workers in those fields. As a kid you’d choose which field you want to go to and apply after middle school, pass the necessary exams and get studying. If you wanted to go to university, you’d continue past high school.