Cooper hails from Wichita, Kansas, and grew up there, attending Wichita Collegiate School, a private college preparatory school from pre-school all the way through 12th grade where he graduated with honors. Cooper was heavily involved in the fine arts in Wichita, primarily in Music Theatre. He performed in 18 musicals, 9 of which he performed as the lead. Roles included Troy Bolton in High School Musical II at Music Theatre of Wichita, Roger Davis in Rent, Ren in Footloose, Tony in West Side Story, Danny Zuko in Grease, Joseph in Technicolor Dreamcoat, and many others. In his Junior year, Cooper was one of 22 young men nominated to compete in the National High School Music Theatre Awards in New York City. He also won two Jester awards for leading actor in Kansas. At Collegiate, Cooper won the Forrest C. Lattner Endowment Award (for persistence and diligence) as a Junior, and the Mandy Shoaf Memorial Award (for achievement in the fine arts and being a friend to all) as a Senior. Shortly after moving to Los Angeles to begin his career as an actor, Cooper was selected as a Warbler on Glee.