The WORST episodes of Abbott Elementary

Every episode of Abbott Elementary ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Abbott Elementary!

A group of dedicated, passionate teachers and a slightly tone-deaf principal are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible public servants may be outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do, even if they don’t love the school district’s less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children.

Last Updated: 4/26/2025Network: ABC (US)Status: Continuing
Career Day (2)
star
0.00
0 votes

#1 - Career Day (2)

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/7/2024

Career Day continues at Abbott; Ava's new outlook on being principal sends the teachers into a downward spiral.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Watch Now:Amazon
Science Fair
star
7.37
193 votes

#2 - Science Fair

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/5/2025

While supervising the kids making their science fair projects, the teachers’ competitive sides come out.

Watch Now:Amazon
Testing
star
7.43
215 votes

#3 - Testing

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/15/2025

Janine must rethink her lesson plans after her class performs poorly on a practice test, while Jacob struggles to engage a disinterested student. The district sends a new custodian to train under Mr. Johnson.

Watch Now:Amazon
Pilot
star
7.46
799 votes

#4 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/7/2021

A group of dedicated, passionate teachers — and a slightly tone-deaf principal — are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible educators may be outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do — even if they don’t love the school district’s less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Watch Now:Amazon
Double Date
star
7.46
298 votes

#5 - Double Date

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/1/2024

Two teachers head out on a double date, but when they run into familiar bar patrons, it proves to be an unfortunate distraction. At Ava’s first book club meeting, the group ends up in a debate over who would be the best post-apocalyptic leader.

Directors: Razan Ghalayini
Watch Now:Amazon
Light Bulb
star
7.48
632 votes

#6 - Light Bulb

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/4/2022

Going against everyone’s advice, Janine takes it upon herself to fix every problem when she notices a flicking light bulb in the hallway. Despite the best intentions, Janine ends up causing new issues throughout the school. Elsewhere, Gregory asks Barbara for help talking to a parent, which leads him to spend his lunch period in an unexpected way.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Watch Now:Amazon
Books
star
7.49
212 votes

#7 - Books

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/5/2025

A debate over a controversial book leads Ava to remove it from the library, but some parents push for its return.

Directors: Dime Davis
Watch Now:Amazon
Strike
star
7.49
216 votes

#8 - Strike

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/22/2025

City buses have stopped running due to a strike, resulting in many students being absent from school. The teachers at Abbott try to find creative solutions and adapt to hybrid learning. Meanwhile, Gregory and O'Shon strike up a friendship.

Directors: Jennifer Celotta
Watch Now:Amazon
Juice
star
7.50
400 votes

#9 - Juice

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/19/2022

Janine is thrilled to help introduce a new beverage to the cafeteria, but it ends up causing unexpected consequences for the students, teachers and school plumbing system. Elsewhere, Melissa clashes with her new aide, Ashley, who brings more disruption than help to the classroom.

Directors: Jay Karas
Writer: Ava Coleman
Watch Now:Amazon
Alex
star
7.52
304 votes

#10 - Alex

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/10/2024

Jacob is shocked when he finds out his colleagues are not invested in his frequent email messages and haven’t even been writing their own replies. Meanwhile, Gregory turns to Janine for help with a former student.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Justin Tan
Watch Now:Amazon
Ava Fest: Tokyo Drift
star
7.53
175 votes

#11 - Ava Fest: Tokyo Drift

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/2/2025

The Abbott teachers turn their open house into a carwash to help raise money for the school.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Justin Tan
Watch Now:Amazon
Mural Arts
star
7.53
356 votes

#12 - Mural Arts

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/1/2023

Jacob secures a visit from a mural arts program for his students but doesn’t agree with their chosen design and attempts to influence their decision. Barbara and Melissa learn parents are petitioning to turn Abbott into a Legendary charter school.

Directors: Geeta Malik
Writer: Joya McCrory
Watch Now:Amazon
New Tech
star
7.54
534 votes

#13 - New Tech

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/18/2022

When a new computer program is introduced at Abbott, Janine is excited to finally help Barbara out with something. However, Barbara is reluctant to accept change and finds herself in a tricky situation when she decides to lie about her students’ results rather than admit defeat. Elsewhere, Melissa surprises Jacob when she offers up a friend to assist with his lesson on unions, but she ends up teaching Jacob an important lesson herself.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Watch Now:Amazon
Art Teacher
star
7.55
485 votes

#14 - Art Teacher

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/8/2022

When the school’s art teacher retires, Janine is thrilled when the replacement ends up being her best friend from college, but things quickly turn sour when Sahar gets in the way of Melissa’s class traditions. Meanwhile, Jacob and Barbara bond over their love for gardening and decide to start a school garden, but when it turns out they don’t know how to successfully grow anything, Gregory secretly gets involved to fix all of their mistakes.

Directors: Jennifer Celotta
Watch Now:Amazon
Mother's Day
star
7.55
294 votes

#15 - Mother's Day

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/8/2024

Barbara invites Gregory to her family’s Mother’s Day brunch. Jacob scrambles to figure out how to organize a school field trip.

Directors: Richie Edelson
Watch Now:Amazon
Fight
star
7.56
351 votes

#16 - Fight

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/11/2023

During a day of touchdowns and missed plays, the Abbott Elementary faculty find themselves learning lessons in teamwork. Two of Janine’s students aren’t getting along in class, leading her to seek advice from her colleagues on how to help repair their friendship. Meanwhile, Melissa and Ava plot to bring down Mr. Johnson in fantasy football.

Directors: Melissa Kosar
Watch Now:Amazon
The Deli
star
7.56
249 votes

#17 - The Deli

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/13/2024

When the neighborhood deli is forced to close to make room for a trendy smoothie place, Melissa, Barbara and Jacob team up to fight the gentrification. Meanwhile, the district asks Ava to give a presentation to fellow principals.

Watch Now:Amazon
Story Samurai
star
7.56
424 votes

#18 - Story Samurai

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/5/2022

A traveling storytelling troupe Jacob used to be in visits Abbott Elementary for a day of education and entertainment. Jacob can’t wait to share this part of his past with his colleagues, but when he realizes they think the performers are corny, Janine does her best to help him embrace his nerdy side. Meanwhile, Melissa struggles with the new normal of her combined second and third grade class.

Directors: Jay Karas
Watch Now:Amazon
Wishlist
star
7.58
572 votes

#19 - Wishlist

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/11/2022

It’s Wishlist Week at Abbott: a chance for teachers to ask the local community for new school supplies. Janine takes to TikTok and with Ava’s assistance, her video is a success and goes viral. Feeling confident, Janine and Ava make a video for Barbara behind her back after she declines their help. Later, Janine encourages Gregory to decorate his classroom.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Watch Now:Amazon
Breakup
star
7.58
299 votes

#20 - Breakup

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/28/2024

When Barbara's church choir uses the gym for rehearsals, Ava notices tension in the group. Jacob's eagerness for a full social calendar worries Gregory. Melissa and Janine investigate a new substitute.

Directors: Jennifer Celotta
Watch Now:Amazon
Costume Contest
star
7.59
254 votes

#21 - Costume Contest

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/30/2024

It's Halloween at Abbott Elementary and Janine and Gregory proudly show off their couple's costume, but it fails to translate; Barbara faces pushback from parents concerned about hygiene and her beloved apple-bobbing tradition.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Watch Now:Amazon
Willard R. Abbott
star
7.59
302 votes

#22 - Willard R. Abbott

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/10/2024

Abbott Elementary is deemed a Philadelphia historical landmark, much to Ava and Janine’s delight; however, Barbara and Melissa are not as impressed. The school plans a celebration in honor of its namesake, but not everything goes as planned.

Directors: Matt Sohn
Writer: Ava Coleman
Watch Now:Amazon
Back to School
star
7.59
285 votes

#23 - Back to School

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/9/2024

The neighboring construction site of a new golf course causes issues at Abbott, forcing the teachers to find creative solutions; an HR representative visits the school; following their kiss, Janine and Gregory's relationship status is revealed.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Watch Now:Amazon
Winter Show
star
7.60
242 votes

#24 - Winter Show

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/4/2024

Despite a few setbacks, Barbara is determined to make Abbott Elementary's first-ever holiday show a success. Meanwhile, Jacob's brother arrives for his visit earlier than planned.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Justin Tan
Watch Now:Amazon
Attack Ad
star
7.60
394 votes

#25 - Attack Ad

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/2/2022

The teachers are appalled after seeing a commercial in support of charter schools criticizing Abbott Elementary. When students begin to transfer schools, Jacob, Ava and Melissa invite the leader of the charter school organization to Abbott and ask him to take down the ad. Elsewhere, Janine and Gregory talk about Janine’s relationship with Tariq.

Directors: Matt Sohn
Writer: Justin Tan
Watch Now:Amazon