In real life, Jim Varney dropped out of high school to pursue his acting career.
The only "Ernest" movie not directed by John R. Cherry III. Cherry handed directing duties to "Ernest" collaborator Coke Sams, while Cherry took a vacation. The film had run into some problems and Cherry came in to direct some of the slapstick stunts.
This is the last Ernest movie to have the character of Bobby played by Bill Byrge.
"Ernest Goes to School" was first released in theaters on June 10, 1994. But only to select theaters with two short separate runs, one in Cincinnati, Ohio from June 10-24, 1994, and one in Louisville, Kentucky from August 5-18, 1994. This was the final Ernest movie to be released theatrically. Subsequent movies were released straight to video.
Even though Jim Varney portrays an idiot, in real life he was highly intelligent.