The story behind the St. Louis question: 'Where did you go to high school?'

ST. LOUIS - As a new school year begins, if you live around St. Louis, there's a good chance you've heard some variation of the question "Where do" or "Where did you go to high school?"

It's more than just small talk. According to Niche.com, the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area is home to more than 100 public high schools and dozens of private high schools.

The question has undoubtedly become a staple of everyday St. Louis culture. But how exactly did it come to be?

In 2005, Dan Dillon, a part-time worker with the Missouri History Museum, explored the phenomenon in his book, titled, "So, Where'd You Go To High School? The Baby Boomer Edition." The book reflects on St. Louis area high school life during the 1950s and 1960s.

"It’s a great conversation starter – although it irritates the heck out of non-St. Louisans," Dillon wrote in the book's introduction.

Dillon suggests that the obsession with St. Louis-area high schools began around the mid-20th century, tracing roots back to Prom Magazine. The magazine, published from 1947 to 1972, featured many St. Louis-area high schools, complete with monthly "gossip columns" and photo spreads.

Essentially, high school students across the St. Louis region could get a glimpse into the hallways, fashions and trends of students nearby.

"Prom gave us the opportunity to discover, although our schools looked different, that we were all pretty much alike," said Dillon.

Just two years ago, the St. Louis Public Library even hosted an exhibit dedicated to the magazine, called, “PROM Magazine: Where did you go to high school?"

Dillon also points to a strong Catholic school presence in the St. Louis area in the mid-20th century. By the early 1960s, there were around 30 Catholic high schools in the area, and for a time, around one in every three regional high schools were Catholic.

Understanding those schools, specifically their traditions and faith, was important in understanding someone's upbringing, values and social circles.

Over time, the meaning of the St. Louis "high school" question has evolved. Depending on who you ask, "Where did you go to high school?" can also hint at someone's background: Their neighborhood, social class, wealth or perhaps even one's perceived intelligence or political beliefs.

In a 2013 St. Louis Community Reddit thread, participants discussed how the question could be telling of one's socioeconomic status just as much as geography. For others, it was simply a way to place someone on a map, connecting them to a municipality, landmark or familiar circle of family and friends.

For Dillon, asking the question is ultimately about building stronger connections.

"Tell me your high school and I get an instant snapshot of the neighborhood where you grew up, your social class and often, your religion," Dillon wrote in the book. He adds, "You might just learn something new about your own school. I guarantee you’ll find something to help you 'make a connection' to those carefree days back before jobs, screaming kids and mortgage payments."

Two decades later, Dillon tells FOX 2 that he believes little has changed for older generations who still ask the question. However, while some younger people may still ask it, it's nowadays more casual and about simple curiosity.

And while the "Where Did You Go To High School?" question may feel unique to St. Louis, it isn't entirely its own thing. In Hawaii, a common icebreaker question is a variation: "Where You Wen Grad?"