School

School exists in the SimCity series, The Sims, The Sims 2, and The Sims 3.

SimCity series
Schools are placed as a civic service, preferably in the vicinity of residential zones. In the case of SimCity 4 for example, there are three types of school: elementary, high school and private school (a reward that needs to be earned), as well as other educational facilities such as libraries, museums, colleges and universities. Cities can actually function without an educational system, but will be hindered in the reduced job opportunities that can be created and rewards that can be attained, as well as a possible increase in crime.

The Sims
Children attend school every day (remember, in TS1 there is no concept of a weekend) from 9AM to 3PM, but don't bring home homework, although they can study from books and computers to boost grades if required. Since the children don't grow up, the only eventual reward of good academic results is a 100 Simoleon reward from their relatives. Children whose grades linger at F for several consecutive days are firstly given a warning then banished to military school and never seen again. Unless they behaved good.

The Sims 2


Children attend elementary school from 9AM to 3PM, and teens attend secondary school from 9AM to 1PM (the shorter hours are for the benefit of teens who may also have a job). Both children and teens get the weekend off, and both ages bring home homework which needs to be done in order to maintain/improve grades. Having an older sim help the younger Sim to study will let them complete the task faster in future and they will gain the memory of learning to study.

Sims with higher grades may, like TS1, be in line for cash rewards from their relatives, as well as several other perks, since success in school fulfills wants for themselves and their parents/grandparents. Also, teen sims with A+ report cards can get additional scholarship money for University.

Sims can also be enrolled in private school by inviting the headmaster and suitably impressing him (good food, a guided tour and the right social interactions all help matters). The hours are the same, but needs are put under less strain and all students change into a default school uniform before leaving for school.

Random rewards can be dealt out while a Sim is at school, worth bonus skill points for sims at private school, or otherwise up to §250 cash.

Children whose grades linger at F for several days may be taken away by the social worker and won't return to that particular family, but may be adopted by another one. Teens would not be taken away for an F grade, but if they have a job then they will be fired. They will also not be able to attend College until their grades improve.

The Sims 3
Sims can now get detention at school. If they are caught sleeping in class or copying homework (tasks you can assign your kids while they're at school), they will be kept after school for a few hours, which can interfere with any part time job. While staying late, the student cannot chose their tone and they will not see any improvement in grades or performance. When detention is over, the school bus takes the student home.

Your kids may still bring home friends after school. They can also be invited over to another student's house to play. Students who go to each other's houses will live within a reasonable distance from each other. The closer the other student, the more likely the invitation is.