Private School

In an interview conducted shortly after the film's release, Betsy Russell said that when asked whether she would consider appearing nude in other films, she replied that it would only be for a prominent film like An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) and that she did not say whether there was unnecessary nudity. She then had to do unnecessary nude scenes in her next three films because those were the only films she was offered.

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Several members of Rick Springfield's band play the group at the school dance early in the film.

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This was the first theatrical film for Paula Abdul as a choreographer; she choreographed the women's aerobics workout.

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Appears as the pharmacist in the drugstore, though uncredited.

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Appears as the cheerleader captain, though uncredited.

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In an interview, Betsy Russell said she agreed to take the role and perform the nude scenes because, after only a handful of commercials and three or four guest appearances on TV, she knew it would be difficult to get into films without undressing, especially in the early '80s. "I did Private School because I knew it would get my foot in the door of cinema. It got me started in the right direction. When I accepted the role, I knew what I was getting into," she said. "I wasn't very self-conscious while doing the scene because I have no hang-ups about my body." She believes her generation, those in their teens and twenties, has a completely different attitude toward nudity in films, on beaches and at swimming pools than their parents and grandparents. "We didn't equate nudity entirely with sex like other generations. Nudity wasn't that important to us. My generation had a different attitude about our bodies. We were more open and less shy. But that doesn't mean our values or morals are worth less than our parents'. In fact, my family wasn't bothered by my topless scene." Then she added, "I wouldn't pose for Playboy, and they pursued me for a long time. There's no reason to do it unless you need the money and have no desire to act."

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In an interview, actress Betsy Russell said that after the producers saw her nude scenes, they wrote another topless scene into the film later on that was not in her contract. But she refused to do it.

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This was Kathleen Wilhoite's first feature film as an actress.

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Phoebe Cates took the most talked-about role in this film after her successful performance the previous year in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), another youth film made and distributed by the same studio, Universal Pictures. The producers tried to get her to undress nude in several scenes, but she refused. The most she did was show her butt.

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Although the film is officially titled "Private School," it is also commonly known as "Private School… for girls" because of the film poster, which added the subtitle "… for girls" beneath the title.

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Appears as the sex education teacher, Miss Regina Copoletta.

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According to an article published in the December 13, 1983 issue of the show business trade paper Variety, producer R. Ben Efraim "has been the target of criticism for using audience-taste research as a key determining factor in the making of his 'Private' films" [these being 'Private Lessons' (1981), 'Private School' (1983) and 'Private Resort' (1985)].

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Betsy Russell topless on horseback ranked 4th on the Flashbak website's list of the Top 20 Most Unnecessary Nude Scenes of the 1980s in July 2014.

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The short cheerleading scene was titled "Cheer Number 69, Rickety Rackety" and featured singer-choreographer Paula Abdul as one of the cheerleaders.

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Sylvia Kristel's character was billed as 'Sex Teacher' rather than by her character name, Miss Regina Copoletta, in the opening title sequence and promotional materials.

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Kathleen Wilhoite (Betsy) was 18 during filming * Phoebe Cates (Christine) was 19 * Betsy Russell (Jordan) was also 19 * Kari Lizer (Rita) was 21 * Michael Zorek (Bubba) was 22 * Matthew Modine (Jim) was 23 * Jonathan Prince (Roy) was 24 * Sylvia Kristel (Miss Copuletta, sex education teacher) was 29 * Fran Ryan (Miss Dutchbok) was 65. She turned 66 the day after filming was completed * Ray Walston (Chauncey) turned 68 during filming.

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Promotion for Private School (1983) sometimes reported, rightly or wrongly, that it was a sequel to Private Lessons (1981). Both films shared a similar title, the presence of actress Sylvia Kristel, the same producer, R. Ben Efraim, and American video distribution through MCA/Universal.

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