GWH is a great flic. In the late 20th century it was impossible that a prodigy like Will Hunting wouldn't be recognized for his genius. Impossible.
Get past that and enjoy.
Using "impossible" in your statement automatically invalidates it.
Sean
It is completely possible. I worked kids in the foster care system in Massachusetts - during the time this film was made.
Will would have been bored in a regular classroom. Since he was both a speed reader and had a photographic memory, more than likely he'd have all his books read but the end of the first day of school. He would have been truant and disruptive in the classroom. At what age was he smarter than his teachers? Grades were probably unimportant to him.
All typos are hereby blamed on my iPad.