Maybe it's not the schooling. I went through a similar experience, because I started programming when I was 7 years old. By the time I had learned enough to want to try to make a game, I had taught myself Turbo Pascal, but I still wasn't of an age to learn trigonometry in school.

I had undiagnosed ADHD and was bullied all throughout my school years. So I had plenty of time.

And it really doesn't take much to learn programming in class 5 or 6...

I believe my teachers were pretty good, overall. At least as good as can be expected.

The first sentence is the same for me but to just pick up programming when you're 11 or 12 by yourself seems crazy! I'm sure you had a mentor or an older friend or some adult that at least exposed you to the concept.

I remember vaguely a course on Basic on Amigas. But other than that, I didn't really have mentors or peers. I believe I learnt QBasic from a book, later Turbo Pascal from another book and assembly from yet another.

That would probably have been enough to spark my creativity. We had a class on using word and powerpoint and typing in grade 8. America is GREAT /s