Preparing Students or Pushing an Agenda?

I graduated high school just a mere 12 years ago.  Thinking back the only acceptable option was to then attended a 4 year college and and spend at least five years getting that four year degree.  Fast forward to now and we are still pushing that same idea.  In the state of Kentucky we spend a lot of time helping students become College and Career Ready (CCR), with the focus on college.  With every student who is CCR we receive "points" from the state.  However, I wonder if we are really doing this for us instead of the students.  Yes there are some students who greatly benefit from our efforts and appreciate it.  The others though dread being pulled form their classes that either they need to graduate or want to be in because it is in a field they enjoy.  There are so many other avenues for students these days to pursue after High School.  Technical or community colleges have become increasing popular and make more sense for students.  For someone who is pursing a trade does it make sense for them the to spend four years at university to then find out they are now lacking the experience to enter the field they want.  They have that fancy degree but more and more it is looking like employers are looking for experience.  Students have more and more options to gain that experience.  With the rising cost of tuition and student loan debt growing at an astronomical rate, what are really doing to prepare our students.  The state forces our hand to do one thing but at who's benefit.  If we are doing our job as teachers then we are presenting our students with all of their options and trying to help them make the best decision for them.  Not trying to "earn a point" from the state.