Top 10 Fictional Television Schools
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
These schools seemed pretty action packed, even by grown-up standards. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 fictional schools in TV.
Special thanks to our users "dante wilson", "Rachel Bloom", "sarahjessicaparkerth", "Malcolm Lim", "Kevin Lemenager", "Animemantim", "Kyle Pickens", "zendaddy621", "Brandon Donlon", "antonius1903", "arimazzie" and "Gabriella Dias" for submitting the idea for this video on our WatchMojo.comsuggest page!
Special thanks to our users "dante wilson", "Rachel Bloom", "sarahjessicaparkerth", "Malcolm Lim", "Kevin Lemenager", "Animemantim", "Kyle Pickens", "zendaddy621", "Brandon Donlon", "antonius1903", "arimazzie" and "Gabriella Dias" for submitting the idea for this video on our WatchMojo.comsuggest page!
#10: James Buchanan High
“Welcome Back, Kotter” (1975-79)
There’s always a group of ne’er-do-wells at any given school that needs some extra attention. In this case, this band of “delinquents” was called the “Sweathogs” because their remedial classes were held in the sweltering top floor of James Buchanan High. And, they happened to be the most compelling and interesting students in the entire Brooklyn-based school – at least according to viewers and their quick-to-make-a-joke teacher. A graduate of the schoolhimself, Mr. Kotter worked hard to keep his students engaged, because like any good sitcom teach, he believed in them.
#9: Walkerville Elementary School
“The Magic School Bus” (1994-97)
Funding for their school district must have been incredible, considering the children here had access to a literal magic school bus that could transport them almost anywhere to teach them science. Their field trips were epic, and we can only hope they retained the information into adulthood – especially the lessons about the digestive system, as they were particularly…enlightening. With Ms. Frizzle as their guide, this class full of ethnically diverse, politically correct children doesn’t actually spend much time in school – but they sure learned a lot.
#8: Lincoln Junior High
“The Wonder Years” (1988-93)
Growing up next to the girl of your dreams can be a source of great joy and great despair, particularly when she moves away and attends a new school. In this case, this new school is Lincoln Junior High, and it’s the source of a lot of adolescent strife – particularly considering Winnie meets her new boyfriend there. The school represents Kevin and Winnie growing apart, and it’s a symbol of them transitioning, ungraciously, into their teen years.
#7: Neptune High
“Veronica Mars” (2004-07)
Located in the beautiful coastal town of Neptune, California, this school is pretty active. And not in the “bake sale” and “spirit week” sense. We’re talking more in the “hey, did you know that the school principal had a baby with one of the students” sense. And we haven’t even mentioned the secret society stuff. Otherwise, it seems like a pretty normal high school for a budding teenage detective to attend, since it’s got all sorts of shenanigans and hijinks to keep track of.
#6: Degrassi High
“Degrassi” franchise (1979-)
This school was teeming with drama – especially for a Canadian high school. From multiple teen pregnancies, to school shootings, to STDs, to bullying, if there’s an issue involving teens grades 9 through 12, it’s probably made an appearance within this school’s halls. To top it off, it seems like the adults who attended this school just never want to leave. Except for wheelchair Jimmy. He seems to have made it out just fine.
#5: West Beverly Hills High School
“Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990-2000)
Aside from having teenagers that looked like they should be teaching instead of attending, this school was also rich kid central. And you know what happens when you follow a bunch of wealthy teenagers through their formative years: You begin to dislike rich teenagers intensely. West Beverly High served as a backdrop to some major teenage drama, with popularity contests and love triangles taking center stage. And between all that, we’re wondering how any of these kids got any learning done at all.
#4: Sunnydale High School
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
No one could ever accuse the teens of Sunnydale High School of being lazy. At least, not the ones fighting to keep the entire town from being overrun by the forces of evil. And while most high schools are renowned for their academics or athletic records, this quaint California educational facility happens to be situated on a portal to another dimension. An evil dimension. A hellmouth, if you will. Found right under the school’s library. Top that; rival highschool.
#3: Greendale Community College
“Community” (2009-14)
Community colleges don’t get enough shine. And this community college in particular seems pretty awesome. If nothing else, it hosts some pretty interesting students and faculty, and faculty-turned-students. With fields of study and student activities ranging from the normal to the wacky, this Colorado school sees endless adventures and rivalries, contests and reconciliations on its campus. Plus, it seems like a place where some amazing friendships are forged. Needless to say, we’d like to enroll.
#2: Bayside High School
“Saved by the Bell” (1989-93)
You know a high school’s really awesome when the students have most of their life experiences within its halls. Bayside apparently had a bunch of students, but we were clearly only supposed to care about six of them, all of whom fit into some sort of stereotype, whether it was the jock, the brain, the cheerleader, the nerd, the shopaholic or the cool guy. And don’t forget their principal – Mr. Belding always seemed to care just a little too much about what Zack, Kelly, Slater, Jessie, Lisa and Screech were up to.
Before we enroll at our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- John Adams High School
“Boy Meets World” (1993-2000)
- William McKinley High School
“Freaks and Geeks” (1999-2000)
- Liberty High School
“My So-Called Life” (1994-95)
- New York City High School for the Performing Arts
“Fame” (1982-87)
- Monroe High School
“Head of the Class” (1986-91)
- Dillon High School
“Friday Night Lights” (2006-11)
#1: Springfield Elementary School
“The Simpsons” (1989-)
While the school does seem to have a few bad apples in its midst, we can’t say the teachers, bus drivers, groundskeeper, cafeteria lady or even the principal, are much better. It’s a lot of fun to watch the antics of the students, particularly Bart Simpson, as he pushes the limits of adult patience at Springfield Elementary. But it’s even more fun to witness the teachers struggle to retain their sense of sanity while working in a grossly underfunded school and facing kids who are either too smart, too dumb or just too bad to the bone.
Do you agree with our list? What is your favorite TV school? For more entertaining Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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