<Page> EXHIBIT 12.1 SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT RATIO DATA) <Table> <Caption> Nine Months Ended February 28, 2003 ----------------- (Unaudited) Earnings: Pretax earnings from continuing operations $ 44.8 Fixed charges 36.4 Less: interest capitalized - ----------------- Earnings $ 81.2 ================= Fixed Charges: Interest expensed $ 23.4 Interest capitalized - ----------------- Interest factor, included in consolidated rental expense 13.0 ----------------- Fixed Charges $ 36.4 ================= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 2.23 ================= <Caption> TWELVE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Earnings: Pretax earnings from continuing operations $ 153.3 $ 57.1 $ 80.4 $ 58.9 $ 38.1 Fixed charges 49.6 59.9 32.5 30.5 29.0 Less: interest capitalized (1.8) (3.3) (1.4) (0.6) - ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Earnings $ 201.1 $ 113.7 $ 111.5 $ 88.8 $ 67.1 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== Fixed Charges: Interest expensed $ 31.6 $ 41.9 $ 19.1 $ 19.2 $ 20.3 Interest capitalized 1.8 3.3 1.4 0.6 - Interest factor, included in consolidated rental expense 16.2 14.7 12.0 10.7 8.7 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Fixed Charges $ 49.6 $ 59.9 $ 32.5 $ 30.5 $ 29.0 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 4.05 1.90 3.43 2.91 2.31 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== </Table>