School and Ishmael

Ishamel no longer attended school. His young brother, Ibrahim, was the only one of his siblings to attend school during the course of the novel. Because his parents divorced, his father no longer saw fit to pay for the boys' education. When Ishmael attended school, it wasn't enjoyable. He and Junior were looked down upon because of their parents divorce. He got into a lot of fights.... schools opened and closed depending upon the fighting in the community.

Ishmael was a good student. When he was young, he retained everything he learned.