In real life, Jim Varney dropped out of high school to pursue his acting career.
This is the only "Ernest" movie not directed by John Cherry. It instead was directed by "Ernest" collaborator Coke Sams. John Cherry had signed a three picture deal with the ABC network, beginning with the previous movie, Ernest Rides Again (1993). The plan was to shoot the first one while prepping the second one, and then shoot the third one afterward. John directed "Ernest Rides Again", while Coke produced it and prepped "Ernest Goes to School". Then, Coke directed "School", while both him and John prepped the next Ernest film, Slam Dunk Ernest (1995), which John returned to direct. Cherry served as an off-site executive producer and decided to take a vacation during filming, visiting once just to check in and direct some slapstick stunts during the final football game scene.
This is the last Ernest movie to have the character of Bobby played by Bill Byrge.
Even though Jim Varney portrays an idiot, in real life he was highly intelligent.
This and the previous Ernest film, Ernest Rides Again (1993), were shot back-to-back in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada during the summer of 1993. Emshell Producers were doing pre-production on 'School' while they were shooting 'Rides Again.' After production on 'Rides Again' concluded, cast and crew had a two week break and then they went right into production on 'School.'