High school anime tv shows are a sub-genre of anime that concentrates on school-based stories. We will be depicting the best high school anime series that focuses on the daily antics and lives of fictional characters attending schools or academies.
Japan has a long history of offering quality anime to the world. And if you love anime, then you should give some of these high school anime series a try. Since they are a direct reflection of the values and principles that teenagers are taught in school, you can learn a lot from watching them.
If you’re an anime fan and are a current high school student, then this blog post will make you enjoy and appreciate your school days. However, if you’re a former student then this list will probably make you feel nostalgic for your previous school antics.
Without further ado, let us guide you toward the top high school anime series ever made, that you should watch on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Amazon, Funimation, or whatever streaming platform you are using!
39. We Never Learn
We Never Learn, also known as Bokuben, is a good high school anime and manga series written and illustrated by Taishi Tsutsui. This anime series is in my opinion one of the best ones as it brings in a good mix of comedy and school life with a dash of romance.
The story follows Nariyuki Yuiga, a regular high schooler that’s tasked with tutoring 3 female geniuses. They soon develop (start to feel) romantic feelings for him and this understandably leads to hilarious and strange adventures with his new friends. Given that this is his last year of high school, he now has more on his plate than just classes and studying.
38. Magical Senpai
This anime spans genres of comedy, romance, school, and ecchi, it is a Lidenfilms production and has 12 episodes that chronicle the antics of an unmotivated freshman as he transfers to a new school, and looks for a club with low requirements. He then finds the magic clubroom and inside is an upperclassman practicing her tricks.
She suffers from stage fright which makes it hard for her to help but during performances, she usually ends up in the most embarrassing situations. The freshman is put in an awkward situation when he’s encouraged to join a club run by an incompetent magician. He encounters one embarrassing moment after the next with his new eccentric magical mentor.
37. Relife
This is a good high school anime story that follows a 27-year-old, jobless man who fails at every job interview he had. After quitting his last company, Kaizaki Arata hoped to find a new opportunity.
His life will turn upside down when he meets Yoake Ryou who offers him a drug that led him to appear like a 17-years-old teenager and becomes the subject of an experiment for one year. Therefore, he started a new life as a high school student once more.
36. Oresuki: Are You The Only One Who Loves Me?
This is a good school anime that highlights the story of Amatsuyu Kisaragi, a normal high school student who thought his romantic prospects were going to live happily ever after, but it turns out the beautiful girl he likes to go with someone else and it turns out that the love of his life is a girl he hates.
In this great high school anime, the story follows these students in a hilarious and messy predicament; they must each negotiate their way out of countless lies, traps, and misunderstandings. How do you think they will survive it?
35. Gakkou Gurashi
Gakkou Gurasi is a horror high school anime that follows, Yuki Takeya, who simply adores her school. Megurigaoka Private High School is a lively school, which is why Yuki stays here as a member of the School Living Club.
The club, with Yuuri Wakasa as president, Kurumi Ebisuzawa as the athletic one, Miki Naoki as the mature one, and Megumi Sakura working as a supervisor while Taroumaru is our school dog has a very laid-back outlook on life at school.
Members must live and study on campus, as the group meets after classes. They are required to spend nights, as well as eat their meals there. Gakkougurashi! is a pretty good drama, romance, high school, and spooky series that follows the adventures of the School Living Club as they live at school to promote independence and self-determination.
34. Monthly Girls Nozaki Kun
Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-Kun is a Japanese high school anime and manga series written and illustrated by ōmoto Inio. This story follows high school student Sakura Chiyo throughout the hilarious events that ensue. She befriends many other quirky schoolmates, including her seemingly shameless assistant, Mikoto Mikoshiba, and falls in love with her classmate, Nozaki Umetarō, who’s secretly a popular shōjo manga artist.
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-Kun spans genres of comedy, romance, and school, and follows Chiyo as she strives to help Nozaki create his manga works and hopes that he will eventually notice her feelings. It has been adapted into a 12-episode anime series by Doga Kobo which aired in 2014.
33. Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai
Next up in this college anime, Puberty Syndrome has been thought of as a myth for a long time. It’s an incredibly rare disease that only affects teenagers, and the symptoms are so unimaginable that most people genuinely believe it is nothing but a tale.
However, high student Sakuta Azusagawa knows from personal experience that it is very real and happens to be quite present in his school. Mai Sakurajima is a third-year high school student who gained fame as a child actress but recently stopped for unknown reasons.
The girl seems cold and distant, Sakuta soon sees her in the library one day dressed as a bunny girl, but no one noticed her so far. He discovers she was also struggling with Puberty Syndrome. Sakuta is doing his best to help Mai through her predicament, but he can’t escape the other girls who are afflicted with this elusive disease too.
32. Engaged To The Unidentified
This is a story that highlights the daily life of the ordinary teenager, Kobeni Yonomor, whose parents decide to give her a welcome surprise on her 16th birthday–a fiance and sister-in-law she never even knew she had. It turns out that Hakuya Mitsumine and his sister Mashiro move into their grandfather’s old home in Yonomori to deepen their relationship with that family.
“Engaged To The Unidentified” is a romance high school anime that tells the story of Kobeni’s relationship with Hakuya while she adjusts to the new changes in her life. Along the way, some startling secrets are revealed about her brother and sister which will change her life forever.
31. Yamada-Kun And The Seven Witches
This anime follows Ryuu Yamada, who wants to have a fresh start in his new school, Suzaku High. There, he’ll be able to manage his reputation much better and have a chance to enjoy school. However, Yamada can’t seem to get rid of his old delinquent self and is now just an irrelevant, lazy student who often gets into fights with others.
Toranosuke Miyamura, the student council’s president is excited to find out that Urara Shiraishi and Ryuu Yamada swapped bodies by accident. She suggests that they join the Supernatural Powers Studies Club.
The club has been digging up the legend of the seven witches of Suzaku High School. It turns out the legend is real and it revolves around a group of girl students acquiring special powers from a kiss. The club’s first quest is to find out who all the different witches are.
30. The Quintessential Quintuplets
Here we have another romance academy anime that features many beautiful school girls. The story follows Fuutarou Uesugi, a popular student who suffers from a tough life outside of school. His standoffish personality and reclusive nature have left him with no friends, and his father’s debt has left them in extreme financial distress.
One day, Uesugi gets in a heated discussion with a transfer student over his seat. Neither of them is in the best of moods afterward. That same day, he’s offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to clear his family’s debt by tutoring a wealthy family’s daughter.
What should have been a great opportunity for Uesugi turns into a nightmare when he discovers that Itsuki, the client, is the girl he earlier argued with. And that’s not all: Itsuki’s is a quintuplet,
So in addition to her, He will also teach his sisters after school. He is of course not happy about it, but he has to do it out of his desire to escape his family’s poverty. Still, Uesugi is determined to make them change their attitude towards studying.
29. Sukitte li Na Yo
This high school anime depicts the idea of Friends will always let you down and Mei Tachibana knows that all too well. In grade school, her friends blamed her when a classmate’s pet died, they showed what kind of friends they were. From then on she’s never had a boyfriend or a close friend.
One day, a misunderstanding leads Mei to hurt one of the most popular students in school- Yamato Kurosawa. It seems that he takes a liking to her and declares that they’re friends. What’s even more surprising is that he not only protects Mei from a stalker but does so with a kiss… Now you gotta watch drama school anime as soon as possible!
28. Kokoro Connect
Kokoro Connect is a drama, romance, school anime tv show that follows the story of Five students, Taichi Yaegashi, Iori Nagase, Himeko Inaba, Yui Kiriyama, and Yoshifumi Aoki. The show mainly focuses on the daily lives of these characters and their reactions to various strange occurrences. It starts by following two protagonists who end up swapping bodies one day and their increasingly bizarre (but still normal) day-to-day life after that.
The other characters start randomly connecting, causing havoc in their daily lives. At first, the five students laugh about the confusion, but soon everything becomes much more serious when they all find out each other’s secrets, and realize that they’re linked in some way. And when their lives are shattered, the relationship between the five students also changes.
27. Another
Safe to say, this is one of the darkest high school anime I’ve watched, it chronicles the story of Kouichi Sakakibara who transfers into classes 3-3 of Yomiyama North. Shortly after he arrives, he discovers that there’s always a gloomy mood in this high school.
He becomes intrigued by the mysterious Mei Misaki, who seems to be ignored or avoided by everyone else. Ignoring warnings from Mei and everyone else, Kouichi got closer and closer to the truth behind the gruesome phenomenon that was continually plaguing classes 3-3 of Yomiyama North.
Another is a mystery thriller for the ages. The story follows Kouichi, Mei, and their friends as they are drawn into an enigmatic, supernatural tale. If you want to know what lies behind the horror of Yomiyama, an anime School, full of mysteries and spooky themes.
26. From Me To You
Here is a Drama, Romance, and high school romance anime that you fall in love with! The series highlights that it’s not hard to see the similarities between Sawako and Sadako from The Ring series. While she is timid and sweet, her nickname is “Sadako” and people kind of mistake her for the scary character in The Ring series.
Having always felt like an outcast, Sawako is attracted to the outgoing and friendly Shouta Kazehaya. From their first meeting, she admires his confidence and ability to be the center of attention at school.
When Kazehaya organizes a test of courage for the entire class and encourages her to attend, Sawako sees this as an opportunity to get along with her classmates. She starts by going with Ayane Yano and Chizuru Yoshida.
Every time Sawako encounters new encounters, she believes that meeting Kazehaya has changed her for the better. Little does she know, her presence is also changing Kazehaya too.
25. K-ON!
K-on is a Kyoto Animation production and is a drama, romance, and school anime that highlights that a fresh high school year always means much to come, and one of those things is joining a club. Being in a dilemma about which club to join, Yui Hirasawa stumbles upon and applies for the Light Music Club, which she misinterprets to be about playing simple instruments, such as castanets. Unable to play an instrument, she decides to visit to apologize and quit.
Meanwhile, the Light Music Club faces disbandment due to a lack of members. This causes the club members to offer anything, from food to slacking off during club time, to convince Yui to join. Despite their efforts, Yui insists on leaving due to her lack of musical experience.
As a last resort, they play a piece for Yui, which sparks her fiery passion and finally convinces her to join the club. From then onward, it’s just plain messing around with bits and pieces of practice. The members of the Light Music Club are ready to take their time together with a delightful one!
24. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!
“Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!” is another Kyoto Animation production, which is a light-hearted comedy about high school students Rikka Takanashi, Yuuta Togashi, and their friends. This is a Japanese word for a syndrome where people have delusional fantasies, and delusions, and engage in eccentric behavior that reflects the symptoms of being an adolescent.
This anime school story highlights how difficult it can be to have this condition and how these anime school students are dealing with the joys and pains of being in love while living in a crazy fantasy world where everyone has some kind of drama going on.
23. Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica
Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica is a magic school anime TV series that aired in 2011. The main character, Madoka Kaname, is thrust into the world of magical girls when she agrees to become one. The show features a group of middle magical school girls who fight against witches to save the world from despair and darkness.
22. Clannad
Clannad is anime that spans genres of drama, romance, and school, and is so sad. It is produced by Kyoto Animation.
The Story follows the story of a high school boy, Tomoya Okazaki, Okazaki Tomoya is a delinquent who finds life dull and believes he’ll never amount to anything. Along with his friend Sunohara, he skips school and plans to waste his high school days away, but he does not mind too much. His life changes when he meets Nagisa Furukawa, a girl who dreams of creating a drama club.
Tomoya with the help of four other girls will form the drama club and meet new people and go on new adventures together. As Tomoya hangs out with the girls more and learns about their problems, he starts realizing that life isn’t as boring as he thought it was. Instead, there’s always something happening that needs to be dealt with, like helping the girls overcome personal obstacles.
21. A Certain Magical Index
“A Certain Magical Index (Toaru Majutsu no Index) is a superpower school anime series that follow Touma Kamijou, who has always been a boy with very unusual power, but what’s wild is how nobody can understand the extent of his amazing power. All that he does know is that he can negate any other supernatural abilities once it comes into contact with him.
This doesn’t affect Kamijou’s life that much at first. He seems to be a normal teenager who lives a generally carefree life. This is until he meets the strange Index Librorum Prohibitorum, a little girl who has memorized the entirety of the forbidden grimoires and is now a damsel in distress. As several magicians aim to harm the girl, Kamijou will protect her at all costs, as he discovers a new realm of the supernatural.
20. Orange
Most people share the feeling that we could do things better in retrospect. We all regret at some point, and when Takamiya Naho receives a letter from herself twenty-seven years in the future? that’s when she finds out her life is about to drastically change.
The letter tells Naho that a new student by the name of Naruse Kakeru will be joining her class, and she should watch over him. But why? She must figure out the meaning of the letter and what it means for her and her new classmate.
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19. Hyouka
When high school student Houtarou Oreki joins the Classics Club at his sister’s request, he learns that this club is more than meets the eye. Since the club room is a part of history, students will be able to think critically as they research various perspectives and questions surrounding it.
Oreki gets pulled into this 45-year-old club room mystery. Accompanied by his fellow club members, Satoshi Fukube, Eru Chitanda, and Mayaka Ibara. As his deadlines approach, Oreki is forced to find the truth buried beneath the dust of years-old works. As well as solving other small side cases that pop up along the way.
Hyouka is a really good high school anime on Netflix that shows that normal life can be full of small mysteries, such as family history, a student film, or even the withered flowers that make up a ghost story.
18. Charlotte
Charlotte is an awesome anime about school. I recommend everyone to watch it because it left a long-lasting impression on many fans across the world. It can be serious at times, or light-hearted too. This anime throughout the story of Yuu Otosaka showcases that people have to stay strong to get over whatever issues they may face.
The story takes place in an alternate world where certain children manifest supernatural abilities once they hit puberty. It’s an epic superpower story with many twists and turns that explores the supernatural lives of these teenagers and the price they must pay for being special. In Hoshinoumi Academy, Yuu is one such individual, but with everything that’s happened can he lead an average life?
17. School Days
High school student Makoto Itou realizes he’s in love with Kotonoha Katsura at the start of his second semester, freshman year. He couldn’t approach her because of his shyness, even though they always take the same train together.
He thinks by secretly taking a picture of her and setting it as his phone’s wallpaper, a charm that will make you realize your true love. However, classmate Sekai Saionji spots the picture and decides to help set him up with Kotonoha and goes as far as befriending her just for him. The trio quickly becomes friends.
School Days is a dark high school anime series that follows the story of three high school students and their lives. You’ll see the joys and hardships they go through, but there’s also romance and melancholy. It’s a good series that will stay in your memory for a long time.
16. Angel Beats
This action high school anime series called Angel Beats is a good show that explores the meaning of life, death, and reality. The story is told from the perspective of Otonashi, who wakes up in an unfamiliar place.
He soon realizes that everyone in this world is dead and they are all trying to find reasons to keep living. As he encounters other individuals with different views and members of the SSS who battle against Tenshi, He will join them only to find out that he is oddly drawn to the enemy Tenshi.
Hence, while he’s trying to regain his memories and understand Tenshi, Otonashi will gradually unravel the mysteries of the afterlife.
15. Maid Sama
Being the first female student council president isn’t easy. It was hard because of the school transition from an all-boys high school to a co-ed one.
The boys nicknamed her “Demon President” because of her strict disciplinary style. Misaki Ayuzawa isn’t afraid to use her Aikido techniques to cast judgment on the troublemakers and protect the girls at Seika High School.
Yet despite her perfect reputation, Ayuzawa has a secret that she wishes to keep hidden from everyone, including her closest friends—she works as a maid at a café to help her family make ends meet.
One day, The popular Takumi Usui walks into the maid cafe. She’s got a secret, and he found out about it. He’ll either spill the beans or use it as leverage to get closer to her – or worse, play with the student council president.
14. Kakegurui
Fans will love its twists and love how crazy Yumeko’s personality is. Because I like all of the detail in every character and all of their personalities, every one of them has a crazy side that you will like. this is a must-recommended anime for watchers who love high-stakes gambling games.
Kakegurui is a good elite high school anime series about Yumeko Jabami, who joins and starts taking part in the games at Hyakkaou Academy. There, If you can reach the top of the ranking, then fame, success, and fortune are just around the corner.
13. Nisekoi
Nisekoi is a romance school series that follows Raku, a boy who’s dragged into a mafia rivalry when he’s forced to date Chitoge, the daughter of a rival gang boss. Despite their constant spats, they successfully hide from everyone that their relationship is fake. The show is about a couple who have been forced to get along for the sake of maintaining peace between their yakuza families.
Raku has started to get involved with lots of different school girls, who are somehow linked to his past more than he thought. Then, his search for the girl who holds his heart and his promise leads him into unexpected situations.
12. Oregairu
This is a romantic comedy high school anime about a student named Hikigaya Hachiman. He’s an antisocial, cold, and sarcastic guy who doesn’t have any friends or a girlfriend though.
Hachiman’s teacher forces him to join the Volunteer Service Club which helps students reach their goals.
Now, Hachiman along with Yukino Yukinoshita, a beautiful ice queen is somehow on the front line of all other people’s problems, something he never dreamed of being.
As Hachiman and Yukino use their brawns to solve issues, will Hachiman’s rotten view of society prove to be a hindrance or an asset he can use to his advantage?
11. Toradora!
Toradora! is a 26-episode anime series by J.C.Staff based on the visual novel of the same title The story revolves around two high school students who are the best of friends, Taiga Aisaka and Ryuuji Takasu, and their everyday lives of a romantic comedy that follows this odd duo as they embark on a quest to help each other with their respective crushes, forming an unlikely alliance in the process. It is a romantic anime that avoids cliches and plots very differently from other love stories. All of the characters have reasons for their actions, instead of behaving unnaturally dumb or stubbornly pridefully.
10. Lucky Star
Lucky Star is another great high school anime show that follows four school girls in their daily lives, highlighting each of their unique qualities. Konata Izumi is a lazy otaku; the Hiiragi twins, Tsukasa and Kagami (sugar and spice respectively); and Miyuki Takara—is a happy and well-mannered girl.
As they go about their lives at school and beyond, they bond over various topics and make hilarious observations about their surroundings. Whether it’s Japanese culture, the intricacies of otaku fandom, or what happened in academics, you don’t have to worry because Tomoko and her friends are here, to analyze, mock, and talk about everything in a funny way.
9. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is a story about a high school anime girl, Haruhi Suzumiya, who has an intellect far above most people. She is bored with life and wishes for more exciting things to happen. On her first day at her new school, she accidentally tells her class that she will grant any wish, so they try to make requests of her.
8. Classroom of the Elite
Koudo Ikusei Senior High School may seem like a utopia, but it has its flaws. It is an elite academy that is ranked high in Japan, but the reality is much more complicated than what you’d expect. In this story, four classes are ranked in order of merit, and only the top students receive favorable treatment.
Kiyotaka is a cold student in the school’s worst class, where Suzune Horikita is also in. She has a goal to climb past Class A, and the highly amicable class idol Kikyou Kushida, who aims to be friends with everyone.
Although Kiyotaka hasn’t been concerned about the class rank, he has instead decided to help them and thus raise their rank in school.
7. Kaguya Sama Love is War
Kaguya Sama is anime that spans genres of Drama, Romance, School, and comedy. It is produced by A-1 Pictures, and the series was a breakout success.
The story is set at the prestigious school “The renowned Shuchiin Academy” that proudly boasts two of the country’s well-ranked students Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya. The student council is headed by Miyuki while the vice president is Kaguya, the eldest daughter of the wealthy Shinomiya family, who is proficient in any given field.
Despite being seen as the perfect couple, and the other student envies them for that, things aren’t going so well. Because it seems they don’t want to admit their feelings to each other. The first to confess will be looked down upon, and no one of these two wants to be seen as the loser. Let’s see who can outlast the other in this war of love.
6. The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K
The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K is a superpower high school anime that follows The life of Saiki Kusuo, which is a disaster and fans love it. The anime follows the life of an incredibly powerful psychic who has decided to settle down in high school and live a normal life. However, his powers continue to get in the way and cause crazy, hilarious, and sometimes disastrous events.
5. Ouran High School Host Club
Ouran High School Host Club is a comedy anime and manga series by Bisco Hatori. This rom-com high school anime series follows Haruhi Fujioka, a girl who stumbles upon The Host Club, where handsome boys entertain the girls in the academy with too much time on their hands. This is not Haruhi’s finest hour. She accidentally breaks an expensive vase and now must work for the eccentric group as their general errand boy so she can repay her enormous debt.
However, thanks to her masculine features, amicable communication with girls, and fascinating-class background, she quickly becomes a full-time male host. Over time, Haruhi is introduced to glitzy event invitations, extravagant parties, and exciting schemes that can only happen to the wealthiest Host Club’s visitors.
4. Fruits Basket
After her mom’s death, Tooru moves in with her grandfather. However, with his home currently being renovated, she can’t live there anymore. She doesn’t want to burden any of her family, or friends so she decides to secretly live in a tent near the woods.
One night as Tooru was returning to her tent, found it buried under a landslide. Meanwhile, she ran across the “prince” of her school and his author cousin. They offered to let her stay at their house until she could get things sorted out.
Upon arriving at the Souma house, Tooru discovers their secret: if a male is hugged by a female, they temporarily transform into one of the animals of the zodiac! However, this phenomenon is not a superpower but is like a curse. As she continues exploring Souma’s House, will Tooru’s kindhearted yet resilient nature be enough to prepare her for what lies ahead?
3. School Rumble
A High school anime romance story isn’t an easy thing to navigate, especially when the word “I love you” can be the catalyst for it all. Tenma Tsukamoto, a second-year student, is on a quest to confess her feelings to the guy she likes. Kenji Harima, a high school delinquent with an intimidating reputation, is also unable to properly express his thoughts and feeling to the girl he loves.
Between school, friends, rivalries, and hobbies, these two will find out that high school relationships can be complicated. Along with dealing with misunderstandings that arise too.
School Rumble is a masterpiece high school anime tv show that will have you rooting for Tenma and Kenji in their quests to win the hearts of those they love.
2. Assassination Classroom
Assassination Classroom is another good high school anime series based on the manga of the same name. The manga was written by Yūsei Matsui and illustrated by Kazuaki Morita. It tells the story of a class of misfits in one of the most unconventional schools “Kunugigaoka Middle School”, in which children are not taught in classes but fight with their teacher every day.
It all began with Koro-sensei, a powerful octopus creature who is more than an overpowered being—he’s the best teacher they’ve ever had! He teaches these students to polish their assassination skills and grow to stand strong against the unfair society, and one day, Koro-sensei.
1. Great Teacher Onizuka
Finally, turning to Great Teacher Onizuka for the best high school anime inspiration is a great idea. This series tells the story of Eikichi Onizuka, a former gang member who becomes a teacher and role model in Japan. He is put in charge of a class, which has the reputation of being the troublemakers’ class.
His unorthodox methods and sometimes questionable strategies make him a controversial figure, but his charisma and enthusiasm eventually earn him the admiration of his students, colleagues, and everyone he comes in contact with.
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