Shows about high school are like the ultimate comfort food for many of us.
Most of us agree that watching others’ high school experiences on the small screen provides a unique form of nostalgia and often even catharsis.
That’s why we at TV Fanatic want to share our favorite shows that help us revisit our high school years.
Beverly Hills, 90210 (Paramount+)
If “Donna Martin Graduates!” and chowing down on pies and burgers at the Peach Pit mean anything to you, you already know there was something incredibly special about Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000).
The show about twin teens relocating from Minnesota to Beverly Hills and dealing with culture shock was so popular that it launched multiple spinoffs and reboots, including BH 90210 (2019), and inspired all the teen dramas that have come since.
Early on, it was obvious that this FOX show was setting out to give us a real look at teenage life and thus let us relive high school in a new and more in-depth way than any shows that came before it.
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We went through it all with the gang from Beverly Hills, 90210, from Dylan (Luke Perry) as an alcoholic with abandonment issues to Steve (Ian Ziering) and his infamous legacy key shenanigans.
The core group of friends changed slightly over the years, but the concept remained unchanged. Their lives were often complicated, dramatic, and frequently unbelievable, but their friendships held them together through it all.
They buried a time capsule in one episode, but they also became a time capsule themselves, and rewatching their decade-long adventures is like stepping through a mirror back into our younger selves for those of us who grew up in the ’90s.
Dawson’s Creek (Hulu)
Dawson’s Creek (1998-2003), at its core, was a tale of two loves. Well, more loves than that, but two central loves.
There was the love between Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) and childhood buddy Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), and then there was the love between Joey and Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson), which came later.
The high school love triangle made us all hold our breath. For five years, we wondered whether Joey would choose Pacey, Dawson, or neither.
Meanwhile, the show also gave us one of the most monumental moments in TV history when Jack and Ethan, as a gay couple, shared a romantic kiss and many other great moments.
It may have been more than a bit whitewashed, and it has taken flack for this over the years. However, it still did a great job in other areas, such as candidly covering subjects like inappropriate student-teacher relations, religious disagreements, and parental affairs.
The original Paula Cole theme song for the show was right. We didn’t want to wait for our lives to be over. We wanted to relive high school right then and watch Joey, Pacey, and the rest of the gangs’ lives unfold.
Saved By the Bell (Roku)
Strictly speaking, we first got to know Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) on Disney when he appeared on the series Good Morning Miss Bliss in 1988. The show was moved to NBC, rebranded Saved By the Bell the next year, and finished its original run in 1992.
Regardless of what it was called, Zack and his friends were unforgettable from day one, with their totally ’80s/’90s fashions, quirky personalities, and weekly zany antics.
But Zack’s constant attempts to outwit Principal Belding (Dennis Haskins) often made for the most laughs.
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From subliminal advertising techniques to stealing spaghetti sauce recipes, Zack was always out to avoid school work while preferably making easy money.
The show was just funny, and it gave us a break from our own high school lives.
After the original came The College Years and The New Class, Saved By the Bell movies, and eventually the Peacock reboot (2020-2021), but the first series was really the best.
Boy Meets World (Disney+)
The ’90s brought us many funny sitcoms, and Boy Meets World (1993-2000) was one of them.
The show about a high school kid making his way into adulthood with his friends and family backing him up was downright cheesy at times.
Yet, it perfectly captured the relationship between students and “that one teacher” many of us have in life who is more of a life guide.
Mr. Feeney (William Daniels) was clearly not in it for the paycheck. He almost became an extra dad to the Boy Meets World crew, especially Corey and Shawn (Ben Savage and Rider Strong).
If you had your own Feeney, Boy Meets World is one of those shows about high school that will definitely tug at your heart and bring fond memories flooding back.
That’s why fans of the show were so excited to see Corey back again and taking on a semi-Feeney-like role on Girl Meets World (2014-2017).
Switched at Birth (Hulu)
Few high school shows have weirder twists than Switched at Birth (2011-2017).
What happens when you find out you were switched at birth, move in with your biological family, have to find a way to get along with the girl who took your place for years, and, oh yeah, you’re deaf?
That’s the question it asked, as it fed our appetites for romantic kisses and teen drama while imparting lessons about deaf culture to help us learn what deaf teens have to deal with daily.
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We were even treated to two high schools full of drama for the price of one.
Daphne (Katie Leclerc) attended Carlton School for the Deaf, but Bay (Vanessa Marano) went to Buckner Hall, at least until Daphne’s birth parents decided to try enrolling her in classes at Buckner, too.
Later, the tables were turned when both girls wound up at Carlton.
For us hearing fans of the show, we still related because we knew exactly what it was like to be teens and have curveballs thrown at you all the time, just not those exact curveballs.
Riverdale (Netflix)
Almost 30 years after the premiere of Beverly Hills, 90210 came Riverdale (2017-2023), which coincidentally also starred Luke Perry until his untimely death in 2019.
For original 90210 fans, his presence on Riverdale definitely brought back the high school nostalgia, but that’s far from all the show has going for it.
Riverdale is fun to watch for all ages because it has touches of style from different decades, combining past and present.
Pops’ Chock’lit Shoppe, for example, has a ’50s diner vibe and feels like a direct nod to 90210’s Peach Pit diner.
Watching Riverdale makes it feel like viewers are actually walking the high school halls with its teen characters.
If the high school nostalgia factor isn’t enough, Riverdale also brings the spook with its intriguing and often creepy mysteries.
The O.C. (Hulu)
It’s time to listen to some great live tunes at The Crab Shack because we’re moving on to The O.C (2003-2007).
Dawson’s Creek was ending just as this little gem about the teens of Newport Beach was kicking off, but there were some parallels between the two.
The O.C. is yet another show from before smart technology was all the rage, which gives it a nostalgia factor of about 5,000 for many of us who grew up in the good old analog days.
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Occasional out-of-control storylines, like Luke (Chris Carmack) sleeping with Marissa’s (Mischa Barton) mom, aside, the teens on the show could be a little pretentious, but they were always relatable.
They got each other through classism, academic stress, bullying, and a whole lot more.
The O.C. also did a great job of portraying parents on the show, making it enjoyable for both teens and adults to watch at the time and allowing many of us to rewatch it fondly with both perspectives in mind.
School Spirits (Paramount+)
School Spirits (2023-present) is a thrilling supernatural drama that combines high school angst with ghostly mysteries.
The show follows Maddie, a teenager who becomes a ghost after a tragic accident at school, and now she must unravel the secrets surrounding her death.
As she navigates the afterlife, she discovers that her school is teeming with spirits, each with their own unfinished business.
The series cleverly intertwines typical high school drama with eerie, otherworldly twists, making School Spirits captivating to watch.
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Prime Video)
Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022-present) is a coming-of-age romance that beautifully encapsulates the bittersweetness of teenage summers.
Based on Jenny Han’s beloved novel, the series follows Belly, a young girl who finds herself caught in a love triangle with two brothers during her annual summer vacation.
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The show explores themes of first love, friendship, and the emotional complexities of growing up.
With its sun-soaked setting and heartfelt storytelling, it perfectly evokes the fleeting, transformative magic of high school summers.
Derry Girls (Netflix)
Derry Girls (2018-2022) is a hilarious and heartwarming UK series set in the 1990s amidst political unrest in Northern Ireland.
The show centers around a group of teenage girls (and one boy) navigating the trials and tribulations of adolescence in the city of Derry.
With its sharp wit and nostalgic charm, Derry Girls brilliantly captures the essence of high school life while also shedding light on a unique historical context.
The characters’ relatable struggles and antics make it a delightful and poignant trip down memory lane.
Heartstopper (Netflix)
Heartstopper (2022-present) on Netflix is a tender and uplifting series that follows the blossoming romance between two British teenagers, Charlie and Nick.
Adapted from Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, the show deftly portrays the nuances of teenage love and identity.
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Through its sincere and authentic storytelling, Heartstopper captures the joys and challenges of coming out and finding acceptance among friends and family.
The series’ endearing characters and heartfelt moments make it a heartwarming celebration of young love.
Gossip Girl (Tubi)
While it depicted the Upper East Side and rich snobs, Gossip Girl (2007-2012) excelled at tackling many teen issues, including eating disorders, drug addiction, LGBTQ+ and coming out, and dysfunctional families.
There were many couples to root for, but at the heart of Gossip Gil was the non-judging Breakfast Club.
It didn’t matter what Blair, Serena, Nate, and Chuck went through.
They always came through for each other in the end.
The fan wars of Dan and Serena vs. Dan and Blair vs. Chuck and Blair also kept social media and YouTube entertaining for years.
Elite (Netflix)
Netflix’s Elite (2018-2024) is a thrilling Spanish series that takes high school drama to a whole new level of intrigue and suspense.
Set in an exclusive private school, the show follows the lives of students from different social backgrounds whose worlds collide in unexpected and often dangerous ways.
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With its mix of mystery, scandal, and teen romance, Elite delves into issues of class, privilege, and the dark secrets that lie beneath the surface of teenage life.
The series keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with its captivating plot twists and complex characters.
Never Have I Ever (Netflix)
Never Have I Ever (2020-2023) on Netflix is a refreshing and funny coming-of-age series created by Mindy Kaling.
The show centers around Devi, a first-generation Indian-American teenager, as she navigates the ups and downs of high school while dealing with the recent loss of her father.
Through Devi’s hilarious and often cringe-worthy attempts to improve her social standing, the series explores themes of identity, grief, and the immigrant experience.
With its sharp humor and heartfelt moments, Never Have I Ever offers a relatable and entertaining glimpse into the trials of teenage life.
The Secret Life of the American Teenager (Hulu)
This Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008-2013) was one of the first shows to focus heavily on teen pregnancy, with not one but two couples in very different storylines.
Amy and Ricky became parents very young and originally co-parented before falling in love.
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Ben and Adrian became pregnant from a one-night stand, almost got an abortion, and fell in love during her pregnancy.
When Adrian had a miscarriage, it almost destroyed them.
Still, Pregnancy wasn’t the only important aspect of The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
A lot of it was about wanting to be a normal teenager and the many obstacles that often get in the way.
Pretty Little Liars (Hulu)
Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017) is a gripping mystery thriller that captivated audiences with its twists and turns.
The show revolves around a group of high school friends whose lives are turned upside down when their leader, Alison, goes missing.
Then, they start receiving ominous messages from a mysterious figure called “A.”
As they dig deeper into Alison’s disappearance and the secrets they each harbor, the girls must navigate the complexities of adolescence while trying to unmask their tormentor.
With its blend of suspense, drama, and high-stakes intrigue, Pretty Little Liars became a cultural phenomenon.
Veronica Mars (Hulu)
Veronica Mars (2004-2007) is a smart and snappy series that blends high school drama with noir detective intrigue.
Kristen Bell stars as Veronica Mars, a sharp-witted teen private investigator who balances solving mysteries with the everyday challenges of high school life in the fictional town of Neptune.
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The series tackles issues of class, corruption, and justice, all while maintaining a clever and engaging tone.
With its compelling characters and intricate plotlines, Veronica Mars has earned a devoted fanbase and critical acclaim. It even earned a 2019 reboot on Hulu.
Friday Night Lights (Hulu)
When the Taylors move to Dillon, Texas, Coah Eric Taylor and his wife, Tami, become fixtures in his players’ lives on Friday Night Lights (2006-2011).
Right after head quarterback Jason Street becomes injured in the series premiere, everyone’s lives change forever.
Coach Taylor has to train a new quarterback, a rookie, Matt Saracen, who has a crush on his daughter, Julie.
Jason soon learns his girlfriend, Lyla Garrity, stays with him out of pity and is in love with his best friend, Tim Riggins.
That only scratched the surface of the drama as relationships are tested through teenage angst and family estrangement.
The Fosters (Hulu)
The Fosters (2013-2018) is a heartfelt and socially conscious drama about the diverse Foster family, led by same-sex couple Stef and Lena.
The series explores the complexities of foster care and adoption as Stef and Lena raise their biological, adopted, and foster children in a loving but often tumultuous household.
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Through its nuanced storytelling, The Fosters addresses important themes such as identity, belonging, and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ families.
The show’s powerful performances and genuine emotional depth make it a poignant and impactful portrayal of modern family life.
We all have our own favorite shows that take us back to our teenage years.
Maybe yours is on this list, and maybe it isn’t.
We’d love to know, so be sure to tell us in the comments.
Perhaps we’ve even introduced you to some shows you aren’t familiar with that might bring the teenage nostalgia flooding back for you.
If so, you can watch them and enjoy a brand-new way to take a mental trip back to high school.
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