Early HS graduation & merit aid?

If the kid who does not want to start college at all is able to be financially self supporting (outside of the parents’ house), then no. Otherwise, an authoritarian-enough parent can apply considerable pressure on the kid to attend college, though a rebellious-enough kid can (self-destructively) intentionally get rejected everywhere, flunk out of community college, etc…

However, if the kid wants to start college after one gap year, a parent can veto that by refusing to pay (or cooperate on financial aid forms) unless the kid goes to college immediately after high school.