Generally, I think the value of programming at an early age is that you have the time and context to develop an earnest interest in programming. You're doing it

Generally, I think the value of programming at an early age is that you have the time and context to develop an earnest interest in programming. You're doing it for fun. And then when you proceed to take courses on it, you're genuinely excited to learn, and you're not just struggling for a passing grade. Most of this is just the broken nature of schooling.