Mark Wahlberg heads back to high school Gabriel Bouys / AFP - Getty Images Imagine trying to pay attention in class with a hunk like Mark Wahlberg sitting next to you -- yikes! The actor, who dropped out of school in the ninth grade, announced that he's going back to high school starting later this month in an effort to get that diploma. But you won't be catching him walking down the halls (sorry). READ: Steve Carell sends off Princeton University graduates: "You should have to suffer!" Wahlberg will be continuing his education courtesy of a new online program based in New Orleans. "It's an actual diploma," Wahlberg told David Letterman on "Late Show" Tuesday night. I've got to take up all the courses that I missed, and I'm a little nervous. "They're going to give me whatever credits I already have, which is probably like one or two," he joked. But I'm going to make it happen. PHOTOS: Graduation gallery Seeing that he has "a lot of downtime on sets in the trailer and stuff," the actor hopes to "just ... blast through it -- hopefully do it within six to eight months." Are we the only ones that find Mark Wahlberg getting in touch with his inner nerd supersexy? Didn't think so. Thumbs up for Mark! Tell us on Facebook and follow us on Pinterest! More in TODAY Entertainment: