Seems an expensive proposition. Experience is great, but what you can learn on a job tends to be very narrowly focused. You will learn a lot more broadly useful

Seems an expensive proposition. Experience is great, but what you can learn on a job tends to be very narrowly focused. You will learn a lot more broadly useful stuff from high school & future employers will take you more seriously, especially if you add a CS degree (or higher). High school just gives you more opportunities down the road, which is the most important thing at your age. Finally what happens if you lose the job? Then you would be left high & dry. PS - At your age I spent most of my spare time programming on my own which gave me a lot of freedom to explore different things, not something you get in a job. [Edit - formatting]