Here's How Far Drake Really Got In School

Drake's career has been filled with scandal, awards, and chart-topping hits. In 2020, Vogue reported that with over 28 billion streams on Spotify, he was streamed more than any other artist of the decade. Over the years, fans and artists alike have showered the rapper with immense praise. In a 2020 interview with Power 106 FM, The Game shared, "Drake is amazing. He's like the Michael Jackson of hip-hop. There's no writer, there's no artist like Drake. He different. Everything Drake does is amazing." Drake has undoubtedly cemented his status as an icon in the world of hip-hop.

However, fans also know that Drake got his start playing Jimmy Brooks in the TV series "Degrassi: The Next Generation," which focused on a group of teenagers dealing with various life issues. Yet, along the path to stardom, the Canadian native had to make some major sacrifices. As his acting career took off, Drake's education sat on the back burner. Plenty of rappers have prioritized their careers over school, and this successful entertainer is no exception. So, how far did Drake really get in school?

In the past, Drake reflected on his educational journey, which included a great deal of struggle. According to a 2010 interview with Heeb Magazine, the rapper revealed, as a young kid, he went to a Jewish day school in Toronto. He said, "Nobody understood what it was like to be black and Jewish. When kids are young, it's hard for them to understand the make-up of religion and race." He also mentioned that he was frequently called a derogatory Yiddish term because he was Black.

In a 2011 interview with Complex, Drake noted that he attended multiple schools growing up. "I was on a TV show, I went to art school, I went to hood schools. I've lived," he revealed at the time. "I went to school with kids that were flying private jets." Because of this, he added, "I never fit in. I was never accepted." Drake also discussed people's misconceptions about his childhood. The rapper explained that many people think he just attended private school and grew up in a wealthy family, which couldn't be further from the truth. Although he scored a starring role in "Degrassi," he remarked that his mother was sick and poor and "a season of Canadian television is under a teacher's salary."

As a teenager, Drake went to two different high schools in Toronto, per Insider. One of the schools he attended was Forest Hill Collegiate Institute in Toronto, per The Guardian. However, he left one credit shy of graduating so that he could offer financial support to his family through his role on "Degrassi."

Amid his successful rap career, Drake still had the desire to graduate. In 2012, Drake earned his high school diploma at the age of 25. He took to Twitter to announce the exciting news. He tweeted, "97% on my final exam. 88% in the course. One of the greatest feelings in my entire life. As of tonight, I have graduated high school!" Fans couldn't have been more thrilled for the rapper, with one user writing, "congrats bro! Way to stick with it and get it done bro! Proud of you!" One fan was inspired by Drake, replying, "wow congratz!!! You've set a great example!! It's never too late!" Denver-based reporter Jon Glasgow joked, "Congrats! So what's plan B? You know, just in case this whole rapping thing doesn't work out? Ha, Jk."