50 Best Back-to-School Trivia Questions to Kick Off the New School Year

It's that time of year again!Backpacks are loaded with books, teachers are writing their names on the chalkboards, and notebooks with hundreds of blank pages are ready to be filled with lesson plans and ideas. A new semester has started, or is about to, and with it, an exciting year of learning.The possibilities are endless as the 2026 school year kicks off, and what better way to get ready for your favorite classes than by brushing up on some back-to-school trivia?Whether you're a student or a teacher, test your knowledge with these fun trivia questions to kick off the semester!School History & Traditionsskynesher/GettyImagesWhat ancient civilization developed famous schools of philosophy, including Plato’s Academy?Answer: Ancient GreeceWhat year was the first public high school in the United States, the English High School of Boston, founded?Answer: 1821What famous educational institution, founded in 1636, is the oldest university in the United States?Answer: Harvard UniversityWhat is the name of the school Harry Potter attends in the famous book series?Answer: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and WizardryWhat classroom writing tool made from slate was commonly used before paper notebooks became popular?Answer: Slate boardWhat two months are the most common times for students in the United States to begin a new school year?Answer: August and SeptemberWhat country is known for having many schools where students remove their shoes before entering classrooms?Answer: JapanWhat ancient Greek philosopher founded a school called the Academy?Answer: PlatoWhat holiday often marks the end of the summer break in the United States?Answer: Labor DayWhat is the name for a school year’s long break that usually happens during the summer months?Answer: Summer vacationSchool Subjects & AcademicsJupiterimages/GettyImagesWhat branch of mathematics focuses on shapes, angles, and measurements?Answer: GeometryWhat process do plants use to turn sunlight into energy?Answer: PhotosynthesisWho wrote the famous play Romeo and Juliet?Answer: William ShakespeareWhat is the largest planet in our solar system?Answer: JupiterWhat force pulls objects toward Earth?Answer: GravityWhat language has the most native speakers in the world?Answer: Mandarin ChineseWhat is the smallest unit of matter that still keeps the properties of an element?Answer: AtomWhat continent is the Amazon Rainforest mostly located in?Answer: South AmericaWhat punctuation mark is used at the end of a question?Answer: Question markWhat is the process where water changes from liquid to gas?Answer: EvaporationSchool Supplies & Classroom KnowledgeFloortje/GettyImagesWhat tool is commonly used to measure length in a classroom?Answer: RulerWhat material is traditionally used inside a pencil to make marks on paper?Answer: GraphiteWhat classroom item is used to display information for the whole class to see?Answer: Whiteboard or chalkboardWhat device is often used by students to type assignments and research information?Answer: Computer or laptopWhat three-hole tool is used to prepare papers for a binder?Answer: Hole punchWhat school supply helps remove pencil marks?Answer: EraserWhat type of notebook has pages with horizontal lines for writing?Answer: Lined notebookWhat is the name of the container used to carry books and school supplies?Answer: BackpackWhat instrument is often used in science classes to view tiny objects?Answer: MicroscopeWhat classroom object measures time during tests or activities?Answer: Clock or timerFamous Students, Teachers & Education FactsChrisGorgio/GettyImagesWho is known as the “Father of Modern Education” and wrote Didactica Magna?Answer: John Amos ComeniusWhat famous scientist developed the theory of relativity?Answer: Albert EinsteinWhich U.S. president taught school in Texas before entering politics?Answer: Lyndon B. JohnsonWho was the first American woman to earn a Ph.D. from a university?Answer: Helen Magill WhiteWhat famous inventor helped develop the first practical incandescent light bulb?Answer: Thomas EdisonWhat scientist discovered penicillin, an important antibiotic?Answer: Alexander FlemingWho wrote The Cat in the Hat, a popular children’s book often found in schools?Answer: Dr. SeussWhat famous civil rights leader gave the “I Have a Dream” speech?Answer: Martin Luther King Jr.Which astronaut was the first person to walk on the Moon?Answer: Neil ArmstrongWhat famous author created the character Sherlock Holmes?Answer: Arthur Conan DoyleFun Back to School General Knowledgewinhorse/GettyImagesHow many letters are in the English alphabet?Answer: 26How many days are usually in a school week?Answer: 5What color are school buses traditionally painted in the United States?Answer: YellowWhat sport is played with a hoop and a basketball?Answer: BasketballWhat is the name of the student who leads a school’s student government?Answer: Student body presidentWhat meal is commonly eaten by students during the school day?Answer: LunchWhat season comes after summer and often begins the school year?Answer: Fall (Autumn)What shape has three sides?Answer: TriangleWhat event allows students to showcase their singing, dancing, acting, or other talents?Answer: Talent showWhat word describes a person who studies at a school?Answer: StudentHow many of these back-to-school questions did you answer correctly before your first day? Some you maybe haven't studied yet, while others were common knowledge! Either way, share these trivia questions with a friend who could use a refresher before heading back to class.More Mental Floss Trivia: