In many ways, high school is the perfect television setting. No matter the setting, time period, or even the universe, teen series typically have a good deal of angst, intrigue, and lovable characters to keep you entertained. And many of the shows have multiple seasons, letting you immerse yourself in their world for hours at a time.
From laugh-until-you-cry comedies to dramatic romances, Netflix is brimming with high school shows. Whether you're approaching high school or its been years since you received your diploma, these shows have something for everyone. Take, for example, the heartwarming mother-daughter bond in "Gilmore Girls," the love triangle at the center of "Never Have I Ever," or spine-tingling adventures in "Stranger Things.
" Ahead, PS rounded up the best shows about high school available for streaming on Netflix. 40 Romantic TV Shows on Netflix "On My Block" Spend some time with best friends Monse, Ruby, Jamal, and Cesar as they confront the challenges of puberty and growing up in South Central LA. All four seasons of "On My Block" are available to stream.
Watch "On My Block" on Netflix now . "Outer Banks" Starring Madelyn Cline, Chase Stokes, and several other up-and-coming young actors, this YA drama is set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, following a close-knit group of teens as they attempt to find the father of their ringleader — who went missing while trying to salvage a sunken ship — and instead find a mysterious treasure map. Watch "Outer Banks" on Netflix now.
"Blood & Water" Netflix's second original series from South Africa revolves around Puleng, a crafty 16-year-old on a mission to find her older sister, who was abducted at birth 17 years before. This series may contain the same tropes as other teen-centric series, but the fact that human trafficking is at the center of this drama gives it a depth that other teen shows lack. Four seasons of "Blood & Water" are now streaming.
Watch "Blood & Water" on Netflix now . "Friday Night Lights" In Dillon, TX, all anyone cares about is Football. This iconic 2000s drama follows Coach Eric Taylor and his players as they navigate life's challenges — all while trying to win the state championship.
Watch "Friday Night Lights" on Netflix now. "Never Have I Ever" Produced by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher, this comedy series tells the story and struggles of a modern first-generation Indian-American teen, played by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan. All four seasons of the high school-set series are now streaming.
Watch "Never Have I Ever" on Netflix now. "Riverdale" This dark and gritty adaptation of the Archie Comic was oftentimes ridiculous, but watching Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead solve mysteries in their permanently misty town was engrossing nonetheless. All seven seasons are streaming.
Watch "Riverdale" on Netflix now . "13 Reasons Why" Hannah Baker posthumously sends 13 cassette tapes to her classmates following her suicide, and gradually they all come to discover how their inconsiderate actions lead to her death. It's a well-acted, heartbreaking mystery.
Watch "13 Reasons Why" on Netflix now . 40 Romantic TV Shows on Netflix "Gilmore Girls" There's nothing quite like watching Rory and Lorelai bond over their morning coffee that gives you the warm fuzzies. You might not want to attend Chilton Preparatory School, but at least it's fun watching Rory navigate the halls.
And if you've already conquered the original series, it's time to tackle the miniseries reboot, "A Year in the Life." Watch "Gilmore Girls" on Netflix now . "Sex Education" When a pair of teens decide to start an underground sex advice clinic at their high school, things get far more complicated (and hilarious) than either of them ever could've imagined.
Watch "Sex Education" on Netflix now . "Elite" This Spanish series focuses on a trio of working-class teens who are admitted to an elite private school for only the wealthiest of families. Naturally, class conflicts and major drama (even murder) ensue.
Watch "Elite" on Netflix now. "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" Teenage witch Sabrina Spellman is torn between her mortal life and friends and the dark allure of the Academy, where warlocks and witches like her train to serve their Dark Lord. Watch "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" on Netflix now.
"Everything Sucks!" In the late 1990s, a rivalry between a high school drama club and the AV club erupts into typical teen shenanigans. Watch "Everything Sucks!" on Netflix now. "The Society" A group of wealthy teenagers find themselves in a version of their town where all the adults have vanished, and they start forging their own rules.
Watch "The Society" on Netflix now. "Stranger Things" This popular sci-fi series follows an adolescent crew living in 1980s Indiana as they discover supernatural forces, secret government threats, and a young girl with telekinetic powers. Don't be too surprised if you find yourself looking for the Demogorgon around every corner after watching this one.
Watch "Stranger Things" on Netflix now . The 20 Sexiest Movies on Netflix to Stream in July "Surviving Summer" When she gets expelled from one too many schools for her reckless behavior, New York native Summer Torres is sent to her mother's homeland of Australia to stay with old family friends, the Gibsons, and clean up her act. Summer's no-nonsense New Yorker attitude sends shockwaves through the small surfing town, and while she's dead set on getting out of dodge at first, she finds herself growing closer to new friends and learning about herself as she takes on surfing.
But things get complicated when she starts falling for her new housemate, Ari. Watch "Surviving Summer" on Netflix now. "Firefly Lane" In this adaptation of Kristin Hannah's novel of the same name, the relationship between two best friends — Kate Mularkey and Tully Hart — is traced from its beginning in the 1970s in high school over three decades.
Katherine Heigl plays current-day Tully, while Sarah Chalke costars as current-day Kate. Watch "Firefly Lane" on Netflix now. "How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)" Inspired by real events, this German series tells the story of how a 17-year-old high school student created Europe's largest online drug business from his bedroom with his best friend, Lenny — and all to impress his American party-animal ex-girlfriend, Lisa.
This coming-of-age story will likely remind you of "Sex Education" (if the series replaced sex advice with pills). Watch "How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)" on Netflix now . "Jinn" In Netflix's first-ever Arabic original series, a group of teenagers unexpectedly come face to face with a supernatural threat while on a class trip to the ancient city of Petra in Jordan.
When that threat becomes deadly, they must take it upon themselves to stop the spiritual force from killing others. Watch "Jinn" on Netflix now . "Love Alarm" Based on the digital comic of the same name by Chon Kye-young, this South Korean drama revolves around a mysterious developer who creates an app, which tells users if someone near them has romantic feelings for them — as well as if you don't like someone.
For Kim Jo-jo, high school becomes even more complicated when the app ropes her into a love triangle with two classmates. Watch "Love Alarm" on Netflix now. "Heartstopper" "Heartstopper" is a super-sweet Netflix series about a group of British teens who fall in love for the first time.
Fans fell not just for the loving LGBTQ+ storylines, but also for the gorgeous way their friendships are represented. Season one and two are currently available, with a third season coming Oct. 3.
Watch "Heartstopper" on Netflix now. "Heartbreak High" Netflix's "Heartbreak High" is a reboot of the classic Australian high school series, but you don't have to be familiar with the old version to dive into the new one. The show follows the students and teachers at Hartley High.
At the start of the series, someone graffitis a list of who slept with who on a bathroom wall, and everyone whose name is on it has to attend a new sex-ed course. The show's diverse cast is full of characters you'll fall for. Watch "Heartbreak High" on Netflix now.
The Sexiest Netflix Shows to Watch This Month "Mortel" In this dark French series, a trio of teenagers — Sofiane, Victor, and Luisa — find themselves bound together by a supernatural force, and together, they attempt to figure out what happened to Sofiane's missing brother. Of course, in between solving crimes and testing out their new powers, the teens must contend with the usual high school drama. Watch "Mortel" on Netflix now .
"Derry Girls" Looking for a laugh? The girls of Derry are here to give you two seasons of adventures so wild, you won't be able to hold back the laughter. This British sitcom follows the personal exploits of 16-year-old Erin Quinn and her four best friends during the tough times that her small town face in the early '90s. Watch "Derry Girls" on Netflix now .
"Trinkets" Three teenagers from vastly different backgrounds and levels on the high school social hierarchy strike up an unlikely friendship after running into each other at a Shoplifters Anonymous meeting. Watch "Trinkets" on Netflix now. "Greenhouse Academy" If you're looking for a good teen drama, this is it.
Set in an elite boarding school in Southern California, teen siblings Hayley and Alex find romance, friends, and even a few rivalries while solving a mystery that relates to their mom. Watch "Greenhouse Academy" on Netflix now. "Fakes" Netflix's "Fakes" is about two best friends who accidentally build a massive fake ID empire, with major consequences on their life and their relationship with each other.
Watch "Fakes" on Netflix now. "Wednesday" Wednesday Addams tackles a variety of monsters, as well as the ups and downs of high school life at her new private school Nevermore in this Netflix show, which premiered in 2022. Full of creepy fun, intrigue, and romance, this show has introduced the Addams Family to a new generation of fans.
Watch "Wednesday" on Netflix now. "The Rain" In this postapocalyptic Danish series, two teenage siblings, Simone and Rasmus, navigate the world alongside a ragtag team of survivors five years after a virus spread by rainfall wipes out almost all of Scandinavia. Expect a lot of drama, a lot of struggle, and a lot of raging hormones.
You can watch all three seasons of the series now. Watch "The Rain" on Netflix now . What Does "Perfect Match" Star Bryton Constantin Have Against Yoga? "I Am Not Okay With This" Sophia Lillis stars in this YA series, which comes from the from the creator/director of "The End of the F***ing World" and the producers of "Stranger Things.
" Based on the Charles Forsman graphic novel of the same name, the series follows a teenage girl as she deals with high school, family drama, her budding sexuality, and the mysterious superpowers that she's gradually developing. Watch "I Am Not Okay With This" on Netflix now. "All American" Teen football player Spencer James from LA is recruited to the Beverly Hills football team, an opportunity his family agrees he cannot miss.
Spencer packs his bags, but once he arrives at his new school, it's clear he's not welcome by anyone — especially the quarterback. Watch "All American" on Netflix now. "XO, Kitty" In this "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" spinoff, Kitty Song-Covey takes her high school experience to the other side of the world.
In the show, Kitty moves all the way to Korea to chase after her boyfriend, Dae. But her exciting junior year gets off to a rocky start when she discovers her beau is hiding a huge secret (aka, another girlfriend), prompting her to embark on a quest of life, love, and identity. Watch "XO, Kitty" on Netflix now.
"Rebelde" This reinterpretation of an iconic early aughts teen soap opera of the same name follows a group of students trying to win the Battle of the Bands while at a famous boarding school. The students grapple with their feelings for each other as well as a secret society in their midst as they try to kickstart their paths to fame and fortune. Watch "Rebelde" on Netflix now.
"Legacies" Though we're not sure we've ever seen a spinoff of a spinoff before, that is just what "Legacies" is. The drama centers around Hope Mikaelson (reprised by Danielle Rose Russell) in a spinoff of "The Originals" . .
. which is a spinoff of "The Vampire Diaries." This CW series picks up two years after the events of "The Originals," with a now-17-year-old Hope attending the Salvatore School For the Young and Gifted.
Watch "Legacies" on Netflix now. "The End of the F***ing World" "The End of the F***ing World" is just as funny as it is disturbingly dark. Fortunately, it will only take you a few seasons to blaze through the adventures of 17-year-old James and Alyssa, who go on the run after stealing a car and maybe-possibly-accidentally murdering someone.
Watch "The End of the F***ing World" on Netflix now. "Daybreak" Based on Brian Ralph's graphic novel of the same name, this dark comedy follows a 17-year-old high school outcast who goes on a mission to find his missing girlfriend in postapocalyptic Glendale, CA. Matthew Broderick makes his regular TV gig debut as the high school's good-natured principal.
Watch "Daybreak" on Netflix now. Did Penelope Featherington Break "Girl Code" by Pursuing Her Best Friend's Brother? "Grand Army" At a large public high school in Brooklyn, five students encounter a series of events that turn their social and personal lives upside down. Watch "Grand Army" on Netflix now.
"Young Royals" Prince Wilhelm of Sweden adjusts to life at his new boarding school, Hillerska, while battling between societal expectations and his heart's true desires. All three seasons are available to stream. Watch "Young Royals" on Netflix now.
"The Get Down" Enjoy a good dose of nostalgia? Take it back to 1977, when a talented group from the South Bronx navigate familial relationships and love to chase their passion to be musical trailblazers. Watch "The Get Down" on Netflix now. Best Teen Shows on Netflix: "Atypical" his coming-of-age series follows Sam Gardner, a teenager on the autism spectrum who decides that he's ready to shake off his doting parents and gain some independence — especially in his love life.
As he experiences everything from his first girlfriend to his first job, and eventually, his first college classes, "Atypical" is both heartwarming and hilarious. Watch "Atypical" on Netflix now . "Ginny & Georgia" Georgia moves her children, Ginny and Austin, up north to start a new life.
They are in for a rude awakening, however, as they try to settle into their new home. Two seasons of "Ginny & Georgia" are currently streaming, with a third in the works. Watch "Ginny & Georgia" on Netflix now.
— Additional reporting by Amanda Prahl and Naomi Parris. Amanda Prahl is a freelance writer, playwright/lyricist, dramaturg, teacher, and copywriter/editor. Amanda has also contributed to Slate, Bustle, Mic, The Mary Sue, and others.
Naomi Parris is a New York-based fashion and beauty writer with over seven years of experience. She served as an editorial operations associate at PS, specializing in all things fashion. Obsessed with telling stories that merge fashion and culture, her areas of expertise include Fashion Week coverage, daily news, high-profile interviews, shopping roundups, and beauty stories.
Maggie Panos was a senior editor for PS Voices..
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