Is it Legal for my High School to take my phone and make me pay $15 dollars to get it back?

A school is private property so they can do this if they wish. May be unfair but doesn't really make any difference.

It is legal to FINE you for having the phone on school property.

Maybe today's' students need to have gone to my school where they used a nice wooden paddle.

Taking peoples property without their consent is theft.

Making people pay you to get their own property back is blackmail.

It is not an unfair policy. The school policy is laid out for all students universally, and has given notice to all students and parents. The fine is justified because the phones are a distraction from the teaching/learning process. Yes, it is a legal, non-discriminatory policy. If you don't like the policy, switch to a different school. As far as I'm concerned, your parents should make YOU pay the $15 fine and teach you some responsibility.

Where there are rules established, there is often associated consequences. It is legal for the school to set up such rules. Many do not like it, but it can be that way.

absolutely...administration rules control

Yes, they can take the phone.

My guess is the $15 is a "handling charge" to cover their time and expense dealing with people that don't follow the rules. That would be legal too.

yes it's legal. rules are rules for a reason, follow them.

It's probably legal.

But really it's legal because no one is going to take the school to court over $15.