First-time director Amy Heckerling said she was seeking to make a comedy that was less structured than conventional ones, and more like American Graffiti (1973) so that "if you woke up and found yourself living in the movie, you'd be happy. I wanted that kind of feel."
According to Brian Backer, Jennifer Jason Leigh and her family allowed him to stay at their house for no charge till filming wrapped being that he flew down to star in the film from his hometown of Brooklyn and was pretty broke.
Nicolas Cage lied about his age so that he could get a bigger part, but the producers eventually found out that he was only 17.
Near the beginning, right after Mr. Hand sends Spicoli to the office for being late to class, Mr. Hand passes out the class schedule of quizzes. After the paper is passed out, the students put the page up to their noses and deeply inhale. This was a popular school ritual of the 1960s, '70s, and early '80s as photocopying machines were very expensive, so ditto machines were used. The resulting copies did not get you high, but they smelled good.
Ray Walston was, at the time, best known for his role as Uncle Martin on Mon Martien favori (1963). Unfortunately Walston, like many actors of that era, was typecast in the role and couldn't book serious roles until the decade ended. Walston said that after the release of this film, he'd be walking down the street and young people would see him and shout "Mr. Hand!" Walston was grateful for that, as it finally meant that he had torn away from being only associated with playing Uncle Martin.
Lana Clarkson: as Mr. Vargas's wife in the high school dance scene. Clarkson was murdered by music producer Phil Spector on February 2, 2003. She is younger than Jennifer Jason Leigh who plays a student.
Nancy Wilson: wife of writer Cameron Crowe and Heart band member appears as the woman in the car beside Brad's, laughing at his pirate costume.