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This is HUGE in Maryland. Coming from South Jersey, I was so confused my freshman year of college when everyone kept asking me that, instead of "What town are you from?" I think it's probably because people from Maryland oftentimes tend to identify with their county, and high school sending zones cross town lines. Most places that people call "towns" aren't even incorporated.
I hear "where'd you go to school" constantly in Chicago - but it's always in regards to what college did you go to. I've never heard anyone ask about high schools.
It's probably because it's a transient place, and at least on the north side of the city most people are all young professionals who came from elsewhere.
I feel bad because I have a friend who didn't go to college, but every single time we're out everyone is always "oh, so where'd you go to school?". So you hear the "Illinois", "Michigan", "oh really! I went to Michigan too, when did you gradute" "Ohio State", etc. Then my friend says "Oakton" because he took one class up there and then dropped out. He still thinks of things in reference to high school, but he's embarassed to list his high school. Of course no one is really trying to judge (most of us are Big 10 anyway - not like we're snotty trying to judge which ivy league we went to) or wanted to make him feel bad - people just get in a frame of mind that everyone must have gone to a university.
Has to be a small town thing and an age thing... I never get asked that here, not even where you went to school unless somebody happens to be wearing a shirt from their alma mater... It's generally what do you do, who do you work for...Most of my friends/colleagues are at least over 30 though.
I think it depends on where you live and where you go for entertainment in any city.
If you live in the central urban 'hip' areas, the question doesn't work because there will be a lot of people who live there but where not born or raised in that particular metro.
If you live in the more standard average city neighborhoods or suburbs, the question is simply asking, 'perhaps we know some of the same people'. And there is nothing wrong with that. It shows stability and ties to the family and area where you live.
In New Orleans, people don't ask where you went to high school; they ask where you went to school. If you're not a native, you probably answer with the college you attended, if you're a local, you know they're asking where you went to high school.
It's a social class kinda thing, with all the parochial schools in New Orleans. If you're a guy and you went to Jesuit or Holy Cross, you're pegged immediately, and alumni look out for each other. If you went to one of the lesser parochial boy's high schools, there's less of a fraternnity. Same for the girls of Sacred Heart, Dominican, Cabrini, Xavier Prep, etc. If you attended public schools you're in a whole other category.
I think it depends on where you live and where you go for entertainment in any city.
If you live in the central urban 'hip' areas, the question doesn't work because there will be a lot of people who live there but where not born or raised in that particular metro.
If you live in the more standard average city neighborhoods or suburbs, the question is simply asking, 'perhaps we know some of the same people'. And there is nothing wrong with that. It shows stability and ties to the family and area where you live.
I've been to the so called "hip" areas of St. Louis. I'm freak'n 50 years old and I would get asked the question.
Usually when I'm out of town, people know I'm not from around there. I met an old couple in FL (who was also from NJ) and they asked where we were from, and when I told them "Jersey"- The women said "I knew it"
But yea it was always "What HS did you go to?" around here.
I've never had anyone ask me that question that I can recall.
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