School Facts

President George W. Bush was a cheerleader during high school and university.

Barack Obama was nicknamed "Barry O'Bomber" by some teammates at Punahou High School for his enthusiastic jump shot, though he spent most of his senior championship season on the bench

Kampang School in northeastern Thailand is the first school to open a toilet for transvestite pupils.

Elvis Presley got a 'C' in his eighth grade music class.

Hypnotism is banned by public schools in San Diego.

Mark Twain left school at age 12 after his father died, never making it past the fifth grade.

In 2008, a 13-year-old boy in Florida was arrested for excessive farting in school.

Sudbury Valley School allows students to do whatever they want; no curriculum, tests, homework, or even classes unless requested. Studies show over 80% of graduates attend college, compared to roughly 62% of public school students nationally.

In China, teachers allow children to sleep in class for around 20 minutes to help improve their learning.

In the U.S., the typical school year is 180 days long. In China, students attend school for around 245 days per year.

During the 2022 Buffalo blizzard, Jay Withey knocked on 10 doors begging for shelter. All 10 said no. He smashed a window at Pine Hill School and guided 24 stranded strangers inside. He found cereal in the cafeteria and gym mats for beds. Before leaving, he left a note: "I'm terribly sorry about the window. I had to save everyone. Merry Christmas, Jay." Police put out a call to find him. Not to arrest him. To thank him.

While filming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides at Greenwich's Old Naval College in 2010, Johnny Depp received a letter from a 9-year-old girl at a nearby school asking Captain Jack Sparrow for help with a "mutiny" against her teachers. With just ten minutes' notice, Depp arrived at the school in full pirate costume — but advised against the idea of mutiny.