LostHobo is right on the mark! I have been there, and if you follow the right steps, your prior academic history will have virtually no effect on your future. I did just fine, and so can you.
I too dropped out of high school for various reasons. This was long ago in the mid 1980s when I was 16 and only half way done with 11th grade. A few years later I realized what a huge mistake I had made, so I obtained my G.E.D. After that, I enrolled at my local community college half-time at night, since I was working full time and had to support myself and pay for college. It took me three years to get my A.A. in Liberal Arts, General Studies, and I graduated with a 3.95 GPA. I specifically chose a general liberal arts degree because, here in New York, it was the best degree option at the time to enable me to ultimately transfer into SUNY Stony Brook without loss of credits.
When my A.A. studies were almost complete, I applied to and was accepted into SUNY Stony Brook, a pretty good NY State University. I lived on Long Island at the time, and SB was, and still is in my opinion, the best college on the Island that is reasonably affordable. SB did not even consider my high school education or lack thereof in its admission decision, nor did the application ever ask for any SAT or ACT scores. As a transfer student who would have an A.A. with 65 credits, all that they considered was my college work. In order to actually attend, I was required to send a copy of my GED test scores, but that was a formality to prove I was eligible to attend rather than part of the admission decision. I was accepted as a full time student, and I went on to graduate two years later with a B.A. in Political Science with a 4.0 average.
After Stony Brook, I applied to and received offers of admission from multiple law law schools. I ended up attending law school on a 75% scholarship and graduated three years later as valedictorian of my law school class.
I am not saying that it will be easy; I worked my a$$ off to do well in my studies. Just rest assured that if you follow the GED —> community college —> four year institution ----> (and maybe even) grad school path like I did, you will be fine. Most four year colleges and universities will base their transfer decision almost entirely, if not entirely, on your college transcripts. Rest assured, that if you decide someday to pursue an advanced degree, graduate schools will never even ask about high school.
Take it from me that your high school education will become largely irrelevant once you demonstrate the ability to succeed at the college level. Community college is the best place to do that.
I just signed up for his site to have a look around since my teenager will be applying to colleges soon. I’m glad I saw your question, and I hope that my experience encourages you. If I was able to do it, then so can you.
Good luck to you!