Michael attends Gardner St. School as a 6th-grader from 1969 to 1970 (6 months) after the 11-year old singer and his four brothers first moved to California from their hometown of Gary, Indiana to begin their new lives as performers. At the time, the Jackson 5, who had recently been signed to the Motown record label, were on the cusp of super stardom. Young Michael goes to school during the day while recorded songs & performed with the Jackson 5 at night.

But, in January of 1970, after the Jackson 5 skyrocketed to fame, their single "I Want You Back" hit #1, and Michael's popularity made it so that he could no longer be a part of a normal school environment; with fans waiting for him outside or barge into the classroom, it became necessary to arrange for private tutoring. He withdrew from Gardner St. and from that point forward was home schooled by a private tutor named Rose Fine.