Aretha Franklin went to a public school in Detroit during her grade school years. She also attended Northern Senior High School during her freshman year. She decided to drop out when she was a sophomore. Soon after that, she was discovered for her obvious talent in singing. She started recording songs when she was 18.
She has a type of voice that will allow you to know what she is singing about. If the song is supposed to be sad, she would allow you to feel the emotions quite clearly. If she is singing a love song, then you will feel the love. Her education may have helped her in basic things but it was evident that she was destined for great things because of her talent.