12 Celebrities Who Went to Regular School While Chasing Fame and Stardom

Ever wondered how your favorite stars managed the chaos of film sets, photo shoots, and red carpets while still showing up for class? Many of today’s most recognizable names in music, movies, and television juggled homework with their rising fame, learning to navigate not only the spotlight but also locker-lined hallways and cafeteria chatter.

Kylie Jenner

Before launching a beauty empire, Kylie Jenner kept pace with homework and was on the cheerleading squad in middle school. She and her sister Kendall Jenner began homeschooling in 2012, and she expressed regret about missing out on high school life on her reality show, Life of Kylie (via Entertainment Tonight).

Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner was on a reality show when most teens were still worried about exams and prom. But before her modeling career took off, she was enrolled at a private school in Chatsworth, California, where, like her sister Kylie, she was on the cheerleading squad, according to Rotten Tomatoes.

Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis started acting as a child, landing a role on That ’70s Show while still attending public school, she said in a Sirius XM interview.

Taylor Swift

Before stadium tours and GRAMMY wins, Taylor Swift was writing songs in her notes and navigating high school in Henderson, Tennessee, per Rolling Stone. Once her songwriting career gained momentum, she got her diploma through a home-study program, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.

Emma Watson

Emma Watson became globally recognized for her role as Hermione Granger, but she continued to focus on her studies during and after filming major movies. The actress capped off her academic journey by earning a degree from Brown University, walking at commencement with a bachelor’s in English literature, according to CBS News.

Julia Stiles

While starring in hit teen films, Julia Stiles was making the grade in her regular classes. Between rehearsals and on-screen moments, she prioritized her education and later earned an English degree from Columbia University, per CBS News.

Dakota Fanning

Dakota Fanning was already a film star before she hit her teenage years, but that didn’t stop her from attending school with her peers. Despite her booming career in films like War of the Worlds, she still completed her diploma at North Hollywood’s Campbell Hall Episcopal High School, where she was also crowned homecoming queen and cheered for her school, as reported by Fox News. 

Ashley Tisdale

Ashley Tisdale enjoyed massive Disney Channel success while growing up attending regular school. She has said she stayed enrolled in traditional public school and even held jobs at clothing stores growing up, since she didn’t become widely famous until she was 18 and had already earned her diploma, according to Parade.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman began her film career as a child yet excelled in school, later studying at Harvard College from 1999 to 2003, earning her A.B. in psychology while continuing to build her acting career, per the Harvard Gazette.

Tamera Mowry

Tamera Mowry rose to fame with her twin sister on a popular sitcom, all while attending regular school. She has described attending Pepperdine University part-time alongside her sister, squeezing in classes between rehearsals and shoots, according to Today.

Eva Longoria

Raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, Eva Longoria went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M University-Kingsville before her acting career took off, as reported by the Texas Cultural Trust. She then balanced attending night school and earned a master’s degree in Chicano Studies from California State University, Northridge, while filming Desperate Housewives, per ABC News.

Taylor Lautner

Before captivating movie audiences as a werewolf, Taylor Lautner was an ordinary student with homework and sports practice. At his parents’ urging, he kept up his education by passing the California High School Proficiency Examination and then immediately signing up for online community college courses, per Rolling Stone.