Name
Most schools are named after people or even directions. You can use your old school names for inspiration or even use someone’s last name. Think Brown, Stanford.
Mascot and School Colors
Middle schools and especially high schools have mascots and school colors. You can choose your favorite animal and trio of colors, or use a symbolic animal.
A layout of the School
Although you won’t have to describe the layout of the school in great detail, being able to picture the school’s grounds will help your imagination and aid you while you write.
Teachers
The school in your book will need teachers, but you won’t have to create a teacher for everyone class your character goes to, just the ones you’ll want to highlight, such as math class and gym, or whatever class will be important for your character. And fashion a teacher perfect for that class.
Classes
What classes does your character have? Is he or she in all Honors/AP classes, normal classes, or intermediate classes? Also, consider the grade your character is in as math and science change with each grade.
Cafeteria
Lunchtime is always a scary time. Where does your character sit? Who does your character sit with? Most schools in America are usually divided like this; each group/clique of friends sticking together everywhere they go.
Students
Who is the popular girl/boy in the school? Is there a group of “Plastics” on Mean Girls with their own version of Regina George? Most importantly, what type of student is your main character: a nerd, an outcast, troublemaker, or cool kid?
Buses
Being on a bus sucks! First, you have to find somewhere to sit. Then you may have to suffer the long ride with no air conditioner or radio if you get stuck with a crappy bus or mean bus driver. On top of that, there is relentless bullying and fights.
Hangout Spots
Where do your main character and his/her friend's handout before and after school? Do they have a special spot where they always go to talk before the bell rings? Year after year, me and my friends went to the same concrete block at the very end of the school to sit and chat.
School Events
Don’t just write about boring classes! Write about dances and games. Does your character go to homecoming or prom? What about football games? Every year my school put together a fun Renaissance night. Add events like this to your story and let something important (good or bad) happen during it.
The Bad
Schools are places for learning, memory building, and first loves, but they also contain tragedies. Students are committing suicide because they’re being bullied, they’re bringing guns to school and shooting everyone they can out of hate and vengeance. These two things are growing more frequent and devastating every year, not to mention there's also deaths from drunk driving, rape at parties, and teen pregnancies.
