One first has to assume that the producers were wanted to base the main characters on long running and typical high school personality traits if not sterotypes. Some prime examples more than likely ought to include the following:
*Jock

*Slacker

*Goofy geek/basketcase

*"Goody-goody"

*High honor student (a person who frequently makes the school Honor Roll through good grades in other words).

*A major trendy

Now maybe it's just me seriously beliveing this, but one can take for account the frequent criticism that the New Class received for blanently ripping-off the SBTB formula (especially in the first few seasons). I would bet that some of the inspiration for SBTB came from some of John Hughes' (this was of course long before he became relegated to writing and producing corny and cartoonish slapstick movies like Home Alone) movies from the mid 1980s. Like for intance the Breakfest Club in terms of the afordmention high school personality sterotyping and Ferris Bueller (is it a coincidence that both he and Zack Morris often guide the audience via talking to the camera).