Don't skip around too much. Make these things apparent to the chefs you apply to work for. Get some good books. There are a million of them out there. You are the master of your own destiny.
Sophomore year is a good time to begin looking into scholarship and grant applications.
Your school guidance counselor will be able to help you find information about assistance. Look into a lot of culinary schools before you make a definite decision. Weigh each school for areas of strength and weakness. Each school stresses certain things in their education. Once you have looked into these schools, ask them about financial aid assistance.