I'm asked by a pretty fair number of high-school folks and their parents about film schools.  Are they worth it?

Yes.  And no.

There's a load of variables at play, and it all hands on the student's expectations.

I graduated from Full Sail, which I regard highly as a technical and trade school.  You wouldn't believe the stuff I learned there... little theory, lots of application.  I can still read Manchester biphase.  Don't know what that is?  Go to Full Sail.

I went to film school to learn about the process of filmmaking and to absorb as much of the basic technical knowledge as possible.  It's served me well, and even though I'm primarily a writer/producer, I'm able to speak fluent "tech" when I need to.

The benefit to having attended is primarily a time issue for me.  I advanced quickly as a result of knowing how things worked before I started and a few fluke opportunities to show myself as tech-literate.

Could have done that without schooling as well, though it would have taken me several more years to absorb the know-how on the job.  For about the same price as film school, you could sweat out a few years in LA doing menial entry-level stuff and work your way up, and if you're personable and ambitious enough to make it happen for you that way, it's just about as good... it'll just take you an extra couple of years, which'll cost you about the same in the end in lost potential revenue as going to film school.