Discover Kamala Harris' educational journey from high school to college

The elections are a week away, and yet many are learning about the candidates. Unlike Donald Trump, who was educated at private schools in New York City and attended an Ivy League, Kamala Harris is the product of a public school and attended an HBCU.

Kamala Harris’ time in Canada

Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, California, in the Bay Area. Her parents were academics and always made sure that their daughters understood the importance of education.

Two middle-class kids.

One, a daughter from Oakland, California, who was raised by a working mother and had a summer job at McDonald’s.

The other, a son from the plains of Nebraska, who spent summers on the farm.

Together, @Tim_Walz and I’m running a campaign for everyone… pic.twitter.com/ZwixIVrkS6

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 27, 2024

However, his mother’s career would take the family to Quebec, Canada, where Harris and her younger sister Maya attended school. Kamala Harris is the product of public schools in Canada. She graduated from Westmount High School in Westmount, Quebec. The school opened its doors in 1873 and touts its record of “making positive contributions to society and being a source of pride for their families and loved ones.”

Although she started her higher education in Canada Vanier Collegeshe decided to return to the United States to complete her studies and attended Howard University, an HBCU in Washington, DC. She graduated in 1986 with degrees in political science and economics.

Howard University helped shape everything I am today. It was great to be back on campus this week and say hello to the new students who will be leaders of our nation and world. pic.twitter.com/ChKRZWLPbQ

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) August 17, 2024

Harris is going to law school

After graduating from Howard, Harris applied to law school and settled at the University of California College of Law, San Francisco, formerly known as UC Hastings. Returning to the Bay Area brought her back to her roots, and while in law school, she served as president of the Black Law Students Association. After graduating in 1989, she passed the California Bar exam the following year.

What Kamala Harris, Tim Walz and Ronald Reagan have in common

Vice President Kamala Harris has moved to the right to attract moderate Republicans and centrist independents during the campaign. Some of these voters may have cast ballots for then-Governor of California Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. In addition to sharing the same home state, she, Reagan, and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, share another similarity with the Republican legend. These three leaders never attended an Ivy League university, making them among the few who have reached the upper echelons of American politics without passing through those halls.