I have a completely different perspective as a 22 year old graphic designer.
Graphic design is absolutely an art.
I go to a state college, which might seem weird for arts, but my school has a very similar program to RISD's, we focus on the fine arts even in regards to graphic design.it'salsosuperaffordable
There are some colleges that will focus on graphic design only as a market trade- something almost anyone can throw together on the basic idea of how the market thinks. These designers use the software (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign usually) as the design itself, and as a result can make something digital and ready to print, although its not very artistic. This also happens a lot when people are self-taught.
I would argue, however, that if you have a love and good relationship with the fine arts it'll make your graphic design experience so much better. Sure, you're thinking about your market, but you're also deeply analyzing how people are going to be thinking about your design. Being trained in the fine arts really helps you translate how people think into a visual composition, and that's when design is really successful.
If you want a real career out of it, you should check out some of these awesome designers. Pentagram has some beautifully done design. Sagmeister & Walsh are really incredible. Aaron Draplin has a really special place in my heart. Here's a video of Aaron Draplin designing a logo, I found it when I first got interested in designing and I found it really helped me think about how I should go about the workflow. If you have Netflix, watch the Paula Scher episode of Abstract.
As far as school plans go: stock up on as many arts and technologies as possible. If you can get more arts than technologies, do that. Get on the scene early on, start drawing, and prepare yourself for art school! Practice all the time, but never let it feel cumbersome. It's important to draw when you want to draw, paint when you feel like painting, etc., even if it's on your own time. Also, never be afraid to express yourself on paper. It's one of the best ways to be aware of your thinking, one of the best benefits of being an artist and a problem solving graphic designer.
Later in high school, apply for art scholarships. Try and get some money saved before college, it'll only help! You might be wondering "why college?" To which I'll say: you won't mark formal, professional, awesomely thought out design without a serious art background. I don't mean to intimidate you, and there are several ways of doing that, but school is the most direct and thought provoking route (this is in my own experience. I really don't think I'd be where I am today without my college education in Studio Arts). Don't have money for art school? A lot of state schools are liberal arts schools - I go to my state's college and go there for free because of scholarships. Do it right, I'd be getting way more money back if I tried harder in high school.
I honestly wouldn't even worry much about software, focus on learning how to express yourself before you expand your tool set. At the end of the day, that's all programs are- tools, just like a pen and paper. What matters most right now is learning how to transfer thought into something visual. Draw anything you want! Don't be afraid to get abstract. Share ideas with people and seek for other people's ideas.
Lastly, just a heads up. Graphic design can be a really stressful field, but always remember that what you're doing isn't for the client- it's for yourself. Designing is a constant desire to keep making stuff better, it takes a lot of thinking but even if you're making it for someone else, the thought process was yours and that's really artistic. You also get to be really cool and listen to rock and roll and stuff.
If you have any questions, PM me!