‘Friday Night Lights,’ ‘Gossip Girl’ & More TV Shows With High Schools We Wish We Could’ve Attended
No one can forget their days spent in fluorescent lit classrooms surrounded by their peers attempting to listen to (or ignore) a glassy-eyed teacher drone on about the importance of the Pythagorean theorem. The clock’s about to mark the end of the day, and as you wait for the sweet shrill of the bell so you can get to your after-school plans, the clock somehow appears to slow down.
You may have envied the Upper East Siders of Gossip Girl as they enjoyed their lunches on the steps of The Met, or maybe you fantasized about cheering with the crowd of spirited Texans for the Dillon Panthers as they sprinted onto the football field on Friday Night Lights.
Some look back on the transformational period of high school as the golden years, others… quite the opposite. Whether you loved it, hated it, or are still trying to figure it out, all high school survivors have one thing in common: There is a fictional school that we could only dream of attending. Below, check out our picks for those, including on the aforementioned shows, Wednesday, and more.
The Harbor School, The O.C.
Drama is no stranger to The Harbor School’s students, only children of Newport’s elite when Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie) comes to town after the successful Cohens take him in. Even though Ryan and his now “brother” Seth (Adam Brody) get into a few brawls at some upscale parties with their classmates, we still would love to sit in class with them. If going to school right next to Newport Beach on a gorgeous campus with large lawns and palm trees isn’t enough, their student recreational area would do the trick. Joining Seth and Summer (Rachel Bilson) on one of the comfy yet cool leather couches, listening to them bicker as Ryan grabs a coffee from the coffee cart, would have made our high school experience a hundred times better.
Streaming Now, Max
Constance Billard and St. Jude's School, Gossip Girl
Even dressing for the part in the morning to go to the all-girls Constance Billard and its male counterpart St. Jude’s School would make us excited. Every single day is a fashion show, and every outfit is an expression of your wealth and status. Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) is not one to shy away from the spotlight of her peers in person and even online. When a new blog emerges, revealing the secrets of the most popular students in the Upper East Side, no one’s dirty laundry is safe — especially when the troubled Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) returns to campus. Located on the island of Manhattan, this school houses old-historic areas like the courtyard and a large stone archway to welcome you into the building. But let’s be real: What we really want is to eat lunch on the steps of The Met instead of a cramped cafeteria.
Streaming Now, Max
McKinley High School, Glee
Although the fact that the school is wildly underfunded plays a major role in every season of Glee, part of us still wants to go to school in Lima, Ohio, and watch Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) and Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) sing a duet at our pep rally or the Cheerios strut in their matching uniforms, led by the egotistical and menacing Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch). The building itself may not be anything special, but the people that make up its community are always sure to bring some entertainment. Whether it’s a wild pep rally from Sue or an insanely talented cast of students performing a scandalous version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, we would be more than willing to get slushied in order to attend this school.
Streaming Now, Disney+ and Hulu
Pacific Coast Academy, Zoey 101
It may have been recently revealed in the new Paramount+ movie that PCA shut down because it wasn’t an accredited institution and the Dean was actually stealing the students’ tuition, but we still wish we could have walked along the coast with Zoey (Jamie Lynn Spears) Chase (Sean Flynn), and the gang. Boarding school sounds fun, but going to school right on the Pacific Coast sounds even better. To top it all off, the students constantly dined at Sushi Rox, an on-campus sushi restaurant, and lived in spacious rooms with funky beds and modern furniture. They were living the life.
Streaming Now, Netflix and Paramount+
Nevermore Academy, Wednesday
If we ignore the part about the murderous beast on the loose, going to school at Nevermore sounds magical (literally). Even though Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) loathes the thought of attending this boarding school for outcasts, freaks, and monsters after her parents ship her away, we wish we lived in this fictional world. The academy is rooted in tradition with riveting activities like the Poe Cup and secret societies held behind hidden doorways. Every day feels like Halloween in this fantastical castle.
Streaming Now, Netflix
Capeside High School, Dawson's Creek
Located in Capeside, Massachusetts, this school embodies the idyllic high school experience. Aspiring filmmaker Dawson (James Van Der Beek) manages the struggles that come with growing up, like dealing with emotions and developing friendships, whether with girl-next-door Joey (Michelle Williams) or best friend since birth Pacey (Katie Holmes), all while attending Capeside High School. Not only is the outside perfectly preppy with white pillars against a classic brick building, but the inside is filled with supportive teachers, a flourishing arts program, and lively sports teams. This high school is quite literally too good to be true and we love it.
Streaming Now, Prime Video, Hulu, and Max
Dillon High School, Friday Night Lights
We all wished our high school football team was as good as the Dillon Panthers. One of the nation’s best football teams, the Panthers always host enthralling football games on their home field in Texas. It may be stressful for a town to put all of its pride in a high school football team, but Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) strives to motivate and encourage his players to always work hard and do their best. Football games are a major event in the high schoolers’ lives. To be able to go to a game where you can watch nationally recognized football is an experience we can only dream about.
Streaming Now, Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services