Bombing the trigonometry final, taking a dodgeball to the face, realizing one's crush is infatuated with the quarterback — experiences like these can sour students towards school. Yet for all the stress that it can bring, school can be magical. It has its glorious moments: making friends, nailing classwork that once seemed impossible, and summoning the courage to step out on stage and be the best Hamlet that 200-person auditorium has ever seen. That makes it all worth it.

Whether elementary, high school, or college, the schools in these anime become breeding grounds for new experiences. They draw shy characters out of their shells, test the mettle of the bravest jocks, and once in a while even force fierce rivals to consider becoming friends.

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Updated May 16, 2024, by C.M. Edwards: Many anime follow main characters during their time in high school, where the potential to be anything is strongest. Still trying to figure out who they are, high school students have the best possibility for adventure, as their path is not yet set in stone. Many genres start off here with a circle of friends in the same class, or a single loner who protects the school from threats. Anime that focuses on this era romanticizes the possibilities of the easy-going lives of students who have yet to set out on their own journeys. School anime can scratch the itch of mystery fans, romance fans, and action fans alike. With new anime released each season, here are more school anime that everyone should watch.

28 Toradora

Easy To Get Invested In

In a rollercoaster ride of love, hate, and emotional growth, Toradora is an excellent slice-of-life slash romance anime for both hard-core fans and newcomers to those genres. Ryuuji, a misunderstood loner with a bad reputation, begins to butt heads with the famous pipsqueak ruffian Taiga, known as the palmtop tiger.

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What starts off as a charged rivalry quickly turns into a loyal friendship, and then more. Ryuuji discovers more about himself while Taiga learns to handle her emotions better. Toradora has laughs, cries, and some of the best character storylines in anime, and is well worth the watch.

27 My Hero Academia

Super Heroes In The Making Try To Save The World

My Hero Academia is one of the most popular anime out currently, mixing the Western superhero genre and anime. The story follows a world where superpowers, or "quirks," are a common staple in society, and heroes and villains are in a constant battle over peace.

Midoriya, the main character, who was born a quirkless nobody, quickly becomes entangled in a decades-long rivalry between the world's greatest hero and the world's most terrible villain. On his journey to becoming the next number-one hero, Midoriya makes new friends and enemies and learns what sacrifices he must make in order to protect those he cares about the most. My Hero Academia has recently started its highly anticipated seventh season, where the UA students must be the last line of defense against the sinister All For One.

26 Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu!

A High Octane Collection Of Genres

Full Metal Panic! will have watchers scratching their heads at exactly what this anime is about. Mixed with a hodgepodge of genres from mecha to slice-of-life, Full Metal Panic! can give viewers a bit of whiplash. The spin-off series Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu! is just as wild a ride, with more variety in the story.

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The main characters are Chidori Kaname, a secret military asset attending high school; and Sousuke Sagara, a highly trained soldier ordered to protect her at all costs. The daily lives of these two are unpredictable. Sosuke can not turn his lethal prowess off against average everyday students, and Chidori can't have a normal high school day to save her life.

25 Irregular At Magic High School

Magic Makes High School That Much Weirder

• Streaming On: Netflix
• Studio: Madhouse

In a world where magic is used for everything from cleaning to military operations, there are schools that seek to groom and nurture the innate magical power of young students. In the first magic school, Tatsuya Shiba is an enigmatic loner who finds himself constantly enthralled in the social-political climate of his peers.

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Having a high skill of magic and a mystery skill, Tatsuya quickly becomes the talk of the town when he's thrust into the spotlight. However, he must make sure that his new-found popularity does not expose his after-hour activities. Irregular at Magic High School is also set to get a sequel this year.

24 Tokyo Majin

Students Vs. Demons

• Streaming On: Crunchyroll
• Studio: AIC Spirits

Tatsuma is a senior in high school and when a strange occurrence erupts in the heart of Tokyo, he and several other classmates acquire special powers. Tatsuma becomes close with the mixed crew, and they take it upon themselves to protect the city from the rise in Oni appearances.

23

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Tatsuma and his friends take on dangerous monsters and other individuals gifted with powers in martial arts action-packed fights to the death.

22 Hyouka

The Bonds Of True Friendship

Oreki has very little interest in being noticed as he's starting his freshman year in high school. He tries to keep to himself, lives an ordinary, mundane life, and saves his energy for his later years.

This plan is completely thrown off the rails when his sister drags him into saving the Classic Club which places him among the group's small roster where spontaneous and overzealous adventures ensue and change Oreki's view.

21 My Teen Romantic Comedy Snafu

How A Hopeless Loner Becomes More

Hikigfaya is a typical loner who has little interest in people or things that he believes conform to societal norms. Having a very harsh worldview that states that love and friendship are fabrications that people full of themselves believe in, he spends most of his time alone and avoids any type of social interaction possible.

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However, Hikigaya's world is flipped upside down when he is reprimanded for writing an insensitive essay that lands him as the newest member of the Volunteer Service Club. Hikigaya is overwhelmed with a number of new responsibilities and a new social life he didn't ask for. My Teen Romantic Comedy Sanfu is a true diamond in the rough that will wow many slice-of-life anime fans.

20 Kakegurui

Addictive Character Personalities

Hyakkao Private Academy is a highly esteemed school for the best and brightest in the country on the surface, but behind closed doors, it is a separate world of debauchery and addiction. With the entire student body dominated by gambling which shapes the hierarchy, students sometimes bet their freedom in order to climb the social ranks.

The established order is threatened when Yumeko Jabami, a seemingly innocent new student shakes things up with her lust for playing against high stakes and dethroning the top brass among the debt-filled hallways of the school.

19 Mashle: Magic And Muscle

Brawn Over Brains

This addition to the Spring 2023 line-up successfully rides the Harry Potter wave by gifting viewers with a hilarious anime parody of the renowned Wizarding World. Mash's goal of becoming Easton Magic Academy's next Chosen One seems impossible, considering the boy doesn't have a magical bone in his body! However, he somehow makes up for this with pure, brute strength, hand-delivered by his incredibly muscular physique.

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Mash's hilarious adventures at the Hogwarts-inspired establishment are fueled by cream puffs, friendship, and not much in-depth thinking. Basically, if One Punch Man's Saitama swapped places with J.K Rowling's golden boy, what would that anime school life look like exactly? Well, Mash has the answer!

18 A Silent Voice

A Beautiful Story Of Growth

Arguably the best school anime of all time (especially if viewers are looking for a tearjerker) follows the heartbreaking tale of two kids dealing with the traumas of their past. Shōya Ishida is not a bad apple per se, but he gets caught up in the hype of trying to fit in and mercilessly bullies the new deaf transfer student alongside his ruthless classmates. Unfortunately, he takes things way too far and causes Shōko to transfer schools, while Shōya is harshly cast aside by his peers.

Overwhelmed with shame, regret, and rejection, Shōya decides to take his own life, but fate has other plans in store. After miraculously reuniting with Shōko, the melancholic young man turns all his energy towards redemption but learns the hard way that actions are more powerful than words.

17 Tomo-Chan Is a Girl!

Awkward Romance At Its Finest

This redheaded rough-houser is so far from complying with gender-specific social norms that most people mistake Tomo-chan for a boy. While this has never really bothered her, now that those dreaded hormones have kicked in, Tomo is crushing hard on her childhood bestie. The problem is that he thinks of Tomo as "one of the guys," and fails to notice her infatuation with him.

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Tomo follows some misguided advice and endeavors to emphasize her so-called femininity and is met with one uncomfortable disaster after another. Meanwhile, her status at school is steadily on the rise, as Tomo gathers plenty of admirers, boys and girls alike, satisfying those LGBTQ+ tastebuds in the process!

16 Oshi No Ko

A Wild Ride Of Reincarnation

Ai Hoshino and her twins surprisingly took the world by storm with their groundbreaking debut in Spring 2023. Episode 1 of Oshi No Ko (aka My Star) elevated J-Pop anime's status with extensive viewership, kicking highly celebrated Shonen series such as Demon Slayer and One Piece to the curb!

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The reincarnation twist to the Idol setting certainly gives the show and Isekai feel; however, without overpowering the entertaining themes of Aqua and Ruby's story. The performing arts industry is a lot tougher than one might think. Saving Ruby from facing the same tragic fate as their mother is Aqua's top priority, even if that means enrolling at the irksome Youtou High School, full of elite stars in the making and established young celebrities.

15 Komi Can't Communicate

Cute And Homey Slice-Of-Life

Many high school anime series explore the romantic comedy genre; however, Komi brings something truly unique to the table. This main protagonist rarely utters a word, and yet still manages to steal everyone's heart. She is the undisputed Class Goddess of Itan Private High School.

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Considering her dazzling beauty, most assume that Komi is the coolest, most confident kid around. Only one person pays enough attention and uncovers the turmoil within. Tadano realizes that poor Komi is battling with crippling social anxiety and is overwhelmed by constant panic attacks. With compassion and grace, he figures out a way to communicate with the selectively mute girl and helps Komi live her best life with fun, friends, and a few flirtations.

14 Classroom Of The Elite

A Cold, Calculating Main Character

Ayanokoji doesn't have a care in the world. And yet, his cold disinterest in pretty much everything, combined with his genius intellect, turns him into a top contender at Koudo Ikusei Senior High School, without so much as breaking a sweat.

This prestigious Academy redefines the term "elite," as it homes some of the wealthiest students in anime history (besides, perhaps the Kakegurui kids.) Ayanokoji and his fellow scholars are pitted against each other with the most random assortment of tests, that seems more focused on the youngsters' manipulation abilities than actual academics (not that anyone's complaining!) With such staggering financial incentives, they certainly are a motivated bunch!

13 Musaigen No Phantom World

Friends, Magic, And Laughs

• Number of Episodes: 13
• Studio: Kyoto Animation
• Genres: Comedy, fantasy

The star of Musaigen no Phantom World is Haruhiko, a student at Hosea Academy who uses his artistic abilities to summon and seal phantoms. Haruhiko is pretty OP, and his drawing power is a fun and unusual twist on more conventional shonen tropes, but the appeal of Musaigen no Phantom World doesn’t end there.

Haruhiko, Mai, Ruru, and the other characters are all entertaining in their own way, and the show itself is a good mix of action, comedy, and fan service. The art style is excellent, and the fights are genuinely exciting, two qualities that already elevate the series above most of its competitors.

12 ReLIFE

A Second Chance At Youth

Even a person who has lived life to the fullest is likely to have their share of regrets about mistakes made and opportunities missed. The protagonist of ReLIFE has more than his share, having lived 27 years without having any accomplishments or relationships to be proud of. Kaizaki would do anything for a second chance to get things right.

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That chance unexpectedly comes along when Kaizaki gets an unusual job offer: test a new medication that makes the patient look like their younger self again. Kaizaki jumps at the chance and returns to high school. ReLIFE is a surprisingly sympathetic and heartfelt anime about trying to get things right, and while its premise could’ve easily gone astray, the writing keeps things mostly grounded throughout.

11 The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya

A Deep Story Under The Surface

• Number of Episodes: 14
• Studio: Kyoto Animation
• Genres: Comedy, mystery

Kyon, a student at North High School, has given up his fascination with the supernatural. His fascination is awoken again, however, by Haruhi, a classmate with a fixation on time travelers, aliens, and other otherworldly and supernatural figures. The two established a club called the SOS Brigade to investigate these strange phenomena.

Using the school club trope as a jumping-off point, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya actually has some pleasant twists that keep it from being more of the same old thing. The true identity of those around Kyon and Haruhi, as well as secrets about Haruhi herself, help build the show’s world in interesting directions.

10 From Me To You

Wonderful Coming-Of-Age Story

15-year-old high school freshman Sawako Kuronuma has always struggled to make friends because she looks like the villainous Sadako from The Ring horror franchise. Others brand her with that cruel nickname and shy away from her, not giving the timid girl a chance to how sweet she is.

When Sawako meets Shouta, the most outgoing and popular boy in class, she is immediately drawn to his kindness and ability to be the center of attention. The romance that blossoms between the two is delicately and beautifully portrayed. From Me to You succeeds as much for its depiction of young love as it does for Sawako's emotional evolution as she grows closer to other students in this exquisite slice-of-life anime.

9 Monthly Girls' Nozaki-Kun

Light-Hearted Romance

Chiyo has a crush, and it seems too good to be true when she learns that her crush Nozaki is a famous artist who wants to use their relationship as inspiration for his romantic manga. After a series of misunderstandings, Chiyo winds up as Nozaki's manga assistant, working side by side to help him in the hope that he will one day appreciate the depth of her feelings.

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It might not have the most breathtaking visuals, but Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun is a funny, self-aware anime. It doesn't rely on fanservice to attract viewers and doesn't use cheap plot gimmicks to keep them.