Notable High School Alums in the USA

We’re shining a spotlight on the most successful, famous, accomplished, and downright wealthy individuals in America who all share one thing in common: they started their journey in high school right here in the USA. From legendary musicians dropping platinum hits to Hollywood’s biggest stars gracing the silver screen, and from sports figures who became household names to US Presidents shaping history, savvy politicians, and trailblazing business leaders building empires – these are the folks who exemplify exceptional talent and an unwavering dedication to their craft. Get ready to discover which high schools shaped these titans and dive into their incredible achievements. It’s time to get inspired by the legends who walked the same halls and kicked off their epic careers right after that final bell!

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Notable High School Alums: Musicians

Step Up to the Mic: Discover Legendary Musicians and their High Schools

Alright, listen up, music junkies! Ever wonder where your fave artists honed their craft before hitting the big time? This list is about to blow your mind, spilling the tea on which high school these absolute legends attended! We’re talking about the classrooms, the hallways, maybe even the detention rooms, that molded the likes of a young Jimi Hendrix at Garfield High, or Queen Bey herself, Beyoncé, at Houston’s Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. From Kid Rock dropping sick rhymes at Romeo High to Ice Cube working on his lyrics while attending Taft High – these are the real OG stomping grounds of musical greatness. Get ready to connect with your idols on a whole new level by checking out their high school roots!

Michigan

Kid Rock

High School Attended: Romeo High School (Romeo, Michigan) - The Bulldogs
College Attended: Did not attend college.
Key Personal Achievements: Multi-platinum selling artist, known for blending rock, rap, country, and blues. Successful touring artist with a large fanbase.
Interesting Fact: Before his music career took off, he worked as a janitor at a local recording studio.
[Romeo High School Bulldogs: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear](https://www.prepsportswear.com/school/us/michigan/romeo/romeo-high-school-bulldogs?schoolid=46129)

Eminem

High School Attended: Lincoln High School (Warren, Michigan) - The Abes
College Attended: Did not attend college.
Key Personal Achievements: One of the best-selling music artists of all time, multiple Grammy and Academy Award winner, credited with popularizing rap music.
Interesting Fact: He was heavily influenced by early hip-hop artists like Run-DMC, Beastie Boys, and LL Cool J.
Lincoln High School Abes: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Madonna (Madonna Louise Ciccone)

High School Attended: Rochester Adams High School (Rochester Hills, Michigan) – The Highlanders
College Attended: Briefly attended the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan) – The Wolverines, and later Oakland Community College (Auburn Hills, Michigan) – No official team nickname readily available.
Key Personal Achievements: One of the best-selling music artists of all time, numerous Grammy Awards, successful acting career (“Evita”), cultural icon.
Interesting Fact: She worked at a Dunkin’ Donuts after moving to New York City.
Rochester Adams High School Highlanders: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Stevie Wonder (Stevland Hardaway Morris)

High School Attended: Fitzgerald High School (Warren, Michigan) – The Spartans
College Attended: Did not attend college; pursued music career from a young age.
Key Personal Achievements: Numerous Grammy Awards (including three Album of the Year awards), Academy Award for “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” Presidential Medal of Freedom, influential musician despite early blindness.
Interesting Fact: He signed his first record deal at the age of 11.
Fitzgerald High School Spartans: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Aretha Franklin

High School Attended: Northern High School) (Detroit, Michigan) – The Jayhawks
College Attended: Did not attend college; pursued music career.
Key Personal Achievements: Numerous Grammy Awards, Presidential Medal of Freedom, “Queen of Soul,” iconic vocalist.
Interesting Fact: Her father, C. L. Franklin, was a prominent Baptist minister.
Northern High School Polar Bears: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

California

Ice Cube

High School Attended: William Howard Taft High School (Woodland Hills, California) - The Toreadors
College Attended: Phoenix Institute of Technology (briefly), University of Arizona (briefly).
Key Personal Achievements: Pioneer of gangsta rap as a member of N.W.A., successful solo music career, accomplished actor and filmmaker.
Interesting Fact: He originally studied architectural drafting before his music career took off.
Taft High School Toreadors: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Snoop Dogg

High School Attended: Long Beach Polytechnic High School (Long Beach, California) - The Jackrabbits
College Attended: Did not attend college.
Key Personal Achievements: Multi-platinum selling artist, influential figure in West Coast hip-hop, successful acting and media personality.
Interesting Fact: He was a standout football player in high school.
Long Beach Polytechnic Jackrabbits: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Ice T

High School Attended: Crenshaw High School (Los Angeles, California) - The Cougars
College Attended: Did not attend college (served in the U.S. Army).
Key Personal Achievements: Pioneer of gangsta rap, successful actor in television (Law & Order: SVU) and film.
Interesting Fact: His stage name “Ice-T” was inspired by the pimp-turned-writer Iceberg Slim.
Crenshaw High School Cougars: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Dr. Dre

High School Attended: Centennial High School (Compton, California) - The Apaches (also attended Fremont High School)
College Attended: Did not attend college.
Key Personal Achievements: Founding member of N.W.A. and Death Row Records, influential producer, co-founder of Beats Electronics.
Interesting Fact: He started his music career as a DJ known as “Dr. J” after basketball player Julius Erving.
Centennial High School Apaches: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Eddie Van Halen

High School Attended: Pasadena High School (Pasadena, California) - The Bulldogs
College Attended: Pasadena City College – The Lancers
Key Personal Achievements: Revolutionary and highly influential guitarist, co-founder of the band Van Halen, Grammy Award winner.
Interesting Fact: He and his brother Alex initially started as a drummer and guitarist respectively, but they switched roles.
Pasadena High School Bulldogs: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Barry White

High School Attended: Jefferson High School (Los Angeles, California) – The Democrats
College Attended: Information not widely available.
Key Personal Achievements: Grammy Awards for “Just the Way You Are” and “Staying Alive” (as performer), numerous platinum-selling albums, distinctive deep bass-baritone voice.
Interesting Fact: His real name was Barry Eugene Carter.
Jefferson High School Democrats: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Gwen Stefani

High School Attended: Loara High School (Anaheim, California) – The Saxons
College Attended: Fullerton College – The Hornets
Key Personal Achievements: Lead singer of No Doubt, successful solo career, fashion designer (L.A.M.B.), television personality (The Voice).
Interesting Fact: She worked at a Dairy Queen as a teenager.
Loara High School Saxons: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Flea (Michael Peter Balzary) )

High School Attended: Fairfax High School (Los Angeles, California) – The Lions
College Attended: Briefly attended Los Angeles City College
Key Personal Achievements: Iconic bassist for Red Hot Chili Peppers, multiple Grammy Awards, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
Interesting Fact: He was initially more interested in jazz trumpet than rock music.
Fairfax High School Lions: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Anthony Kiedis

High School Attended: Fairfax High School (Los Angeles, California) – The Lions
College Attended: Briefly attended UCLA – The Bruins
Key Personal Achievements: Lead singer and lyricist for Red Hot Chili Peppers, multiple Grammy Awards, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, author of autobiography “Scar Tissue.”
Interesting Fact: His father, Blackie Dammett, was an actor and had connections to the Hollywood scene.
Fairfax High School Lions: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Minnesota

Bob Dylan (Robert Allen Zimmerman)

High School Attended: Hibbing High School (Hibbing, Minnesota) – The Bluejackets
College Attended: Briefly attended the University of Minnesota – The Golden Gophers
Key Personal Achievements: Nobel Prize in Literature, numerous Grammy Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Award), Presidential Medal of Freedom, iconic songwriter and folk musician.
Interesting Fact: His birth name was Robert Allen Zimmerman, and he changed it in homage to the poet Dylan Thomas.
[Hibbing High School Bluejackets: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

](https://www.prepsportswear.com/school/us/minnesota/hibbing/hibbing-high-school-bluejackets?schoolid=46393)

New York

LL Cool J

High School Attended: Andrew Jackson High School) (Queens, New York) - The Volunteers
College Attended: Did not attend college
Key Personal Achievements: Pioneer of hip-hop, successful recording artist, actor in television and film (NCIS: Los Angeles)
Interesting Fact: His stage name stands for “Ladies Love Cool James”
Andrew Jackson High School Volunteers: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Beastie Boys

Michael “Mike D” Diamond: The Calhoun School
Adam “MCA” Yauch & Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz: Edward R. Murrow High School – The Mustangs
Colleges: Mike D – Vassar College, MCA – Bard College, Ad-Rock – none
Key Personal Achievements: Pioneering hip-hop group that blended rap with punk and rock influences, multi-platinum selling artists, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees
Interesting Fact: They started as a hardcore punk band before transitioning to hip-hop
Murrow High School Mustangs: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Jay-Z (Shawn Corey Carter)

High School Attended: George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School – The Yellow Jackets; Trenton Central High School – The Tornadoes
College Attended: Did not attend college
Key Personal Achievements: Numerous Grammy Awards, co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, billionaire entrepreneur
Interesting Fact: He was shot three times before the age of 20
Westinghouse High School Yellow Jackets: Custom T-Shirts & Spirit Wear
Trenton Central High School Tornadoes: Custom T-Shirts & Spirit Wear

Alicia Keys (Alicia Augello Cook)

High School Attended: Professional Performing Arts School (New York City, New York)
College Attended: Briefly attended Columbia University – The Lions
Key Personal Achievements: Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and pianist, actress, author, philanthropist
Interesting Fact: She was valedictorian of her high school class at 16
Professional Performing Arts School: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Lady Gaga (Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta)

High School Attended: Convent of the Sacred Heart (New York City, New York)
College Attended: Briefly attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts
Key Personal Achievements: Grammy Awards, Oscar winner for “Shallow,” cultural icon
Interesting Fact: She was writing songs and playing piano by age 13
Convent of the Sacred Heart: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Nas (Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones)

High School Attended: Thomas A. Edison High School (New York City, New York) (briefly) – The Inventors
College Attended: Did not attend college
Key Personal Achievements: Grammy Award winner, creator of “Illmatic,” regarded as one of hip-hop’s greatest lyricists
Interesting Fact: His father is a jazz and blues musician
Edison High School Inventors: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

New Jersey

Bruce Springsteen

High School Attended: Freehold High School (Freehold, New Jersey) – The Colonials
College Attended: Briefly attended Ocean County College (Toms River, New Jersey) – The Vikings
Key Personal Achievements: Grammy and Oscar winner, Presidential Medal of Freedom, iconic American songwriter and performer
Interesting Fact: His first guitar was a $18 Kent model
Freehold High School Colonials: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Whitney Houston

High School Attended: North 13th Street School and Mount Saint Dominic Academy (Caldwell, New Jersey) – The Lions
College Attended: Did not attend college
Key Personal Achievements: Best-selling artist, multiple Grammy wins, actress in “The Bodyguard”
Interesting Fact: Her mother was gospel singer Cissy Houston; cousin was Dionne Warwick
Mount Saint Dominic Academy Lions: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Frank Sinatra

High School Attended: A.J. Demarest High School (later Memorial High School) – The Tigers
College Attended: Did not graduate high school
Key Personal Achievements: Grammy and Academy Award winner, Rat Pack member
Interesting Fact: He suffered from claustrophobia
Memorial High School Tigers: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Lauryn Hill

High School Attended: Columbia High School (Maplewood, New Jersey) – The Cougars
College Attended: Briefly attended Columbia University (New York City, New York) – The Lions
Key Personal Achievements: Multiple Grammy winner, member of The Fugees, solo artist
Interesting Fact: She acted in soap operas as a teen
Columbia High School Cougars: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Texas

Beyoncé Knowles

High School Attended: Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Houston, Texas)
College Attended: Did not attend college
Key Personal Achievements: Multiple Grammy Awards, singer-songwriter, actress, global icon
Interesting Fact: Her father was her early manager

United Kingdom

Mick Jagger

High School Attended: Dartford Grammar School (Dartford, Kent, England)
College Attended: London School of Economics
Key Personal Achievements: Lead singer of The Rolling Stones
Interesting Fact: Reunited with Keith Richards after childhood friendship to form the Stones

Tennessee

Elvis Presley

High School Attended: L.C. Humes High School (Memphis, Tennessee) – The Eagles
College Attended: Did not attend
Key Personal Achievements: “The King of Rock and Roll”
Interesting Fact: Received first guitar at 11
L.C. Humes High School Eagles: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Morgan Wallen

High School Attended: Gibbs High School (Corryton, Tennessee) – The Eagles
College Attended: Pellissippi State Community College – The Panthers
Key Personal Achievements: Chart-topping country singer
Interesting Fact: Was on a baseball path before switching to music
Gibbs High School Eagles: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Ohio

Dave Grohl

High School Attended: Thomas Jefferson High School & Fairfax High School (Virginia) – The Colonials / The Rebels
College Attended: Did not attend college
Key Personal Achievements: Drummer of Nirvana, frontman of Foo Fighters
Interesting Fact: Self-taught drummer
Fairfax High School Rebels: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Marilyn Manson (Brian Hugh Warner)

High School Attended: North Canton Hoover High School (North Canton, Ohio) – The Vikings
College Attended: Broward Community College – The Seahawks
Key Personal Achievements: Shock rock icon
Interesting Fact: Worked at a record store before fame
Hoover High School Vikings: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Oklahoma

Blake Shelton

High School Attended: Ada High School (Ada, Oklahoma) – The Cougars
College Attended: Did not attend college
Key Personal Achievements: Country music star, coach on “The Voice”
Interesting Fact: Wrote his first song at 15
Ada High School Cougars: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Garth Brooks

High School Attended: Yukon High School (Yukon, Oklahoma) – The Millers
College Attended: Oklahoma State University – The Cowboys
Key Personal Achievements: One of the best-selling artists of all time
Interesting Fact: Played baseball, basketball, and track
Yukon High School Millers: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

North Carolina

Luke Combs

High School Attended: A.C. Reynolds High School (Asheville, North Carolina) – The Rockets
College Attended: Appalachian State University (Boone, North Carolina) – The Mountaineers
Key Personal Achievements: Award-winning and commercially successful contemporary country music artist.
Interesting Fact: He played football in high school and originally intended to pursue a career in law enforcement.
A.C. Reynolds High School Rockets: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Georgia

Luke Bryan

High School Attended: Leesburg High School (Leesburg, Georgia) – The Trojans
College Attended: Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, Georgia) – The Eagles
Key Personal Achievements: Award-winning and highly popular contemporary country music artist, judge on “American Idol.”
Interesting Fact: He initially moved to Nashville with the intention of being a songwriter, not a performer.
Leesburg High School Trojans: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Washington

Jimi Hendrix

High School Attended: Garfield High School (Seattle, Washington) – The Bulldogs
College Attended: Did not attend college
Key Personal Achievements: One of the greatest guitarists in rock history
Interesting Fact: Briefly a U.S. Army paratrooper
Garfield High School Bulldogs: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear

Quincy Jones

High School Attended: Garfield High School (Seattle, Washington) – The Bulldogs
College Attended: Seattle University, Berklee College of Music
Key Personal Achievements: Producer of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” humanitarian, composer
Interesting Fact: Survived tuberculosis as a child
Garfield High School Bulldogs: Custom T-Shirts, Hoodies & Spirit Wear