The Ultimate High School TV Shows: Unveiling the Epitome of Teen Drama

Shows like Riverdale and Heartstopper have gained popularity by centering their stories around high school settings. In 2017, Archie Comics' beloved characters were brought to life on screen, as they embarked on a journey to uncover the secrets of their small town following a mysterious murder. Despite initially being depicted as students at Riverdale High, the CW series decided to follow the footsteps of previous teen dramas by implementing a time jump prior to season 5.

According to creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, the writers and cast members were enthusiastic about exploring new possibilities beyond the confines of the classroom. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly in February 2021, Aguirre-Sacasa explained that the decision to have the characters attend different colleges was made early on to avoid the cliché of all of them attending the same university. Additionally, Aguirre-Sacasa expressed his preference for high school stories over college narratives, as he finds them to be more captivating in terms of drama. The most exciting aspect of the upcoming season, he revealed, is the opportunity to start afresh with a clean slate after four seasons of complex storytelling. The time jump will allow the show to drop viewers into the middle of ongoing stories, creating intrigue and anticipation as they catch up.

The screenwriter pointed out that the show shakeup provided an opportunity to introduce "fresh dynamics" starting from season 6. Aguirre-Sacasa further mentioned, "It's no longer just Betty and Jughead in scenes, and it's not just Cheryl and Toni sharing scenes anymore." The actors are thrilled about portraying characters who are closer to their own age, which has been a source of excitement for them.

During that period, the creator of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina emphasized the effort put into maintaining the familiarity of the main characters for the fans.

"We have endeavored to stay true to the essence of the characters since we first encountered them. Archie, at his core, was a good-natured individual striving to meet the expectations set by his father and himself," he elaborated. "Veronica, in marrying someone who shares similarities with her father Hiram, has undergone significant growth. Betty's pursuit of hunting down serial killers feels like a natural progression. Jughead's passion for writing also aligns with his character. Perhaps the character who has experienced the most significant changes would be Veronica due to her marriage."

After dedicating three seasons to Riverdale, Ashleigh Murray shared how her departure from the show allowed her to venture into diverse acting opportunities. The actress, originally from Missouri, portrayed Josie McCoy for three seasons on Riverdale, and later reprised the role in the spinoff series, Katy Keene.

"It is truly amazing because I have always possessed a great level of maturity, even during my younger years. It is truly satisfying to finally embrace and embody that same level of maturity," expressed the actress during her promotion of the TV series Tom Swift in May 2022. "It is empowering to feel like a woman, to be acknowledged and respected as a woman. I have the ability to assert myself, command attention, and have my voice heard. I am confident that I will be understood, accepted, and warmly received."

Credit: Katie Yu/The CW

Most Iconic TV Shows Based in High School: From 'The Vampire Diaries' to 'Riverdale'

The teenage era! Over the years, shows like Riverdale and Heartstopper have found their fanbases by telling stories set in high school.

The creators and cast of Riverdale were eager to explore new possibilities beyond the confines of the classroom when they decided to introduce a time jump in season 5. In 2017, viewers were captivated by the iconic characters from Archie Comics as they embarked on a journey to unravel a mysterious murder in their small town of Riverdale. Although the main group of friends were established students at Riverdale High, the CW series followed the precedent set by other teen dramas by opting for a time jump.

"We made the decision quickly because all the kids were heading to different colleges, and we wanted to avoid them all attending the same university like Riverdale. Personally, college stories are less appealing to me when it comes to drama, compared to high school tales," he shared with Entertainment Weekly in February 2021. "What excites us the most is that after four seasons of complex and intricate storytelling, this time jump gives us a fresh start. We can drop into ongoing stories and have the audience catch up."

The screenwriter also mentioned that this show shakeup opens up opportunities for introducing "new dynamics" in season 6. Aguirre-Sacasa added, "Now it's not just Betty and Jughead in scenes together, and it's not just Cheryl and Toni. The actors are also thrilled about portraying characters closer to their own age."

The creator of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina emphasized the effort put into maintaining the familiarity of the main characters for the fans. He explained that they aimed to stay true to who the characters were when they were initially introduced. For example, Archie was portrayed as a decent kid who strived to meet the expectations set by his father and himself. Veronica, on the other hand, had married someone similar to her father, Hiram, resulting in significant changes for her character. Betty's involvement in hunting serial killers was seen as a natural progression, while Jughead's passion for writing remained consistent.

After her three-season stint on Riverdale, Ashleigh Murray found the freedom to explore a range of new roles. Previously known for her portrayal of Josie McCoy, the Missouri native continued her character's journey in the spinoff series, Katy Keene.

During the promotion of her TV series Tom Swift in May 2022, Murray expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to grow and mature. She revealed, "It's an incredible feeling to finally step into this newfound maturity. I've always carried a sense of maturity, even in my youth, and now I can fully embrace it." Embracing her womanhood, Murray relished the chance to be recognized, respected, and valued. She confidently asserted, "I can now enter any space and command attention, knowing that I will be heard, understood, and welcomed."

Scroll down for more iconic shows set in high school:

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Credit: Natalie Cass/Disney

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

The documentary-style musical drama, which aired from 2019 to 2023, took inspiration from the popular High School Musical film series. Starring an impressive ensemble cast including Joshua Bassett, Sofia Wylie, Olivia Rodrigo, Matt Cornett, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Frankie Rodriguez, and more, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series brought a fresh take to the beloved franchise.

Credit: YouTube

The CW series, which aired from 2008 to 2013, centered around the lives of affluent students attending West Beverly Hills High School in California's upscale neighborhood of Beverly Hills. This popular show, a part of the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise, featured a talented cast including Shenae Grimes, Tristan Wilds, AnnaLynne McCord, Jessica Stroup, Michael Steger, Jessica Lowndes, Matt Lanter, and Lori Loughlin.

Credit: Katie Yu/The CW

Based on the iconic characters from Archie Comics, Riverdale delves into the lives of a tight-knit group of friends who embark on a journey to uncover the hidden and sinister secrets that lurk within their seemingly idyllic town. Initially set in Riverdale High, this captivating teen drama premiered on The CW in 2017 and boasts a talented ensemble cast including KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse, Madelaine Petsch, Charles Melton, Vanessa Morgan, and Mädchen Amick.

'Riverdale'

Credit: CWTV

Set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, the drama series introduced viewers to the lives of two half brothers vying for a spot on Tree Hill High School's basketball team. Spanning from 2003 to 2012, the show featured an ensemble cast including Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, Bethany Joy Lenz, Paul Johansson, and Sophia Bush.

'One Tree Hill'

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The Freeform series aired from 2010 to 2017 and revolved around the lives of five best friends attending Rosewood High School. Their lives take a dark turn when they start receiving threatening messages from a mysterious person named "A." This gripping drama series, based on a book series with the same name, featured an ensemble cast including Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell, Sasha Pieterse, Ian Harding, Tyler Blackburn, Janel Parrish, and Keegan Allen.

'Pretty Little Liars'

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'The Vampire Diaries'

Elena Gilbert finds herself entangled in a complicated love triangle with the Salvatore brothers, Stefan and Damon, while she attends Mystic Falls High School. This supernatural series aired on The CW for eight years, from 2009 to 2017, and featured talented actors such as Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Kat Graham, Candice Accola, Zach Roerig, Michael Trevino, and Matt Davis.

The franchise later continued with two spinoffs, The Originals and Legacies.

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'Veronica Mars'

The students at Oceanside High School were the focus of a captivating teen noir drama. Veronica Mars, who spends her free time as a private investigator, takes center stage in this show which aired from 2004 to 2007. The talented cast includes Kristen Bell, Percy Daggs III, Jason Dohring, Francis Capra, Enrico Colantoni, and Ryan Hansen.

Credit: Matthew Welch

'Teen Wolf'

Teen Wolf, a television series that aired from 2011 to 2017, was based on the 1985 film of the same name. The show followed the story of a young werewolf who had to confront supernatural creatures and various threats that plagued his town. Many intense confrontations took place at Beacon Hills High School throughout the show. Notable actors such as Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed, Dylan O'Brien, Tyler Hoechlin, Holland Roden, Colton Haynes, Shelley Hennig, Arden Cho, and Dylan Sprayberry all made appearances in this popular MTV series. The success of the original series led to the creation of a revival film and a spinoff titled Wolf Pack.

Credit: Degrassi/YouTube

Following the achievements of its predecessors Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, this teenage drama brought in a fresh group of students who confront a range of challenges during their tenure at Degrassi Community School. Spanning from 2001 to 2015, the cast regularly underwent changes to accommodate additional characters and storylines.

'Degrassi: The Next Generation'

Credit: Netflix

Based on Alice Oseman's webcomic and graphic novel, Truham and Higgs are the fictional high schools where the main characters attend. The Netflix series revolves around the developing romantic relationship between students Charlie and Nick. The talented cast includes Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Tobie Donovan, Rhea Norwood, Jenny Walser, and Sebastian Croft.

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'Boy Meets World'

The television series, which was on the air from 1993 to 2000, revolved around the life of Cory Matthews and his close-knit family. Throughout his time at John Adams High School, Cory gains valuable life lessons that ultimately shape his future. Starring Ben Savage, Rider Strong, Will Friedle, Danielle Fishel, William Daniels, Betsy Randle, and William Russ, the show captured the essence of Cory's journey.

Boy Meets World received a spinoff series titled Girl Meets World. It aired on Disney Channel from 2014 to 2017.