Top 50 Best School Anime [Must Watch High School Anime]

Top 50 Best School Anime

What are the best school anime? Which high school anime should you watch if you’re looking for a good show to marathon on your summer vacation? In this post, we will be counting down from 50 to 1.

The criteria is that these must be high school based shows that have been released in the last 5 years or so. Let’s get started! 

What are some of your favorite school animes? Comment below and let us know what your favorites are!

50. Yowamushi Pedal: Grande Road

This anime is a blend of Shounen and sports genres. It began with brief recaps as well, which was helpful because it ran for over one year!

The creators did an excellent job in character development throughout the 24 episodes.

If you have extra time, watch this anime because it is entertaining. However, if you are looking for a deep plot line or something that will keep your attention constantly then I would look elsewhere.

49. Nichijou: My Ordinary Life

Nichijou: My Ordinary Life

“Nichijou: My Ordinary Life is a 26 episode long anime series of 2011. It has been almost a decade since its release, right?

It’s an adaptation of the manga with some prequel content that you should check out if you want to fully enjoy it.

The show received mixed reviews across the board but was generally liked by most people.”

48. Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu: High School Anime Comedy

Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu

If you are looking for a series that has action and comedy, then Fumoffu is the anime to watch. Though it does not have a prequel, Full Metal Panic? still exists as its parent series.

There are 12 episodes in this short 2003 anime about an introvert who ends up putting his charge Kaname’s life in danger while trying to protect her from other dangers she faces because of Sousuke being assigned by Mithril (an organization) at first without knowing what he was getting himself into – but soon develops friendships with others on the team after realizing they were good people intent only on saving lives unlike those bad guys out there lurking around waiting to take them down!

47. Angel Beats: Best Action High School Anime

Angel Beats!

If you’re looking for some supernatural action, Angel Beats! will be your favorite. It’s a shorter series with just 13 episodes.

There are 10 lakh + ratings and reviews on IMDb alone—and it’s easy to see why there is so much love out there for this anime adaptation of an original light novel written by Jun Maeda in collaboration with Yuriko Asami under the name “Project BECK.”

The story follows Otonashi who finds himself after-life one day without any memories besides his own name:

Yuri tells him where he is and what has happened to her since she died, prompting our protagonist into joining up with her organization that fights against Tenshi (who turns out not to actually have been nice at all).

46. Beastars 2

Beastars 2

“Beastars 2” is an adaptation of the manga. If you’ve read it, then this anime can be enjoyed even more! This type of thematic and plot setting especially works well for a psychological shounen like “Beastars.” 

The title itself (and what comes with achieving such status) is highly coveted in their world.

The Beastars are pivotal to keeping peace between beasts that have different eating habits during tense moments while also playing into some conflicts faced by characters throughout the series’ progression.

All-in-all, struggles & conflict take center stage as they find it hard to maintain balance within themselves or otherwise.

45. School Babysitters

School Babysitters

If you’re interested in Shoujo and slice-of-life anime, then Gakuen Babysitters is the perfect show for you.

The story follows Ryuuichi Kashima who needs money to support her family of 11 kids after they lost their mother.

Each episode has a different challenge that she faces as an orphanage babysitter which makes it feel like watching many short stories instead of one long narrative arc.

There are also side characters with interesting backstories so I recommend watching both seasons since there’s not much difference between them except some small plot points here and there!

44. Date A Live

Date A Live

Date A Live is a story both thrilling and intriguing with an element of supernatural powers.

The protagonist takes custody of three such spirits who retaliate when they’re threatened, which isn’t a spoiler as you have to watch it yourself to know more about the adventure that commences from there on out.

It first aired in 2004 based off its light novel series but was affected by violence and profanity leading to low ratings despite having interesting elements for viewers interested in this kind subject matter so if this interests you then read up more because there’s much more!

43. Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Best Fantasy High School Anime

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a great anime with an interesting plot.

The visuals are amazing and the characters are very entertaining, especially Miki and Kaname.

This show received praise from critics which doesn’t happen often making it really special!

42. Maid-Sama: Romantic Comedy Anime High School

Maid-Sama!

Maid-Sama! is a popular anime and most of you’ve wondered why it’s on 42. It doesn’t mean that its popularity is lower in any way; however, Maid-Sama!’s school setting isn’t the focus like other plots would be. 

Maid-sama tells the story about this girl who becomes President of her school while working as a maid at café to make money for herself (that makes up part of her identity).

This season has 26 thrilling episodes with unforgettable things so if you haven’t watched them yet I highly recommend checking out some good action/romance Anime shows!

41. ReLIFE: Kanketsu-Hen: School Anime Series

ReLIFE: Kanketsu-Hen

Nowadays, even web mangas play a critical role in an anime’s success. Experiments and stuff can be an ideal theme for a romantic story like ReLIFE: Kanketsu-hen that came out in 2018 is based on its popular manga of the same name.

The show tells the story about two individuals who go through one such experiment to revert their age back by 10 years each so they can rediscover themselves while also trying to come up with life plans which turn into triggers for change within them both as well as between them throughout this journey together where it becomes uncertain whether or not these changes will last after going through all of this painless yet painful experience due to some unknown consequences at hand along with another adaptation and sequel already released afterwards!

Must read: Top 50 Best Cyberpunk Anime Of All Time

40. The Tatami Galaxy

The Tatami Galaxy

Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei is a mystery thriller with some elements of psychological stuff. It has an adaptation and side story too, which are both adaptations from the source material: 2004 novel titled Yojou Han Shinwa Taikei (The Tatami Galaxy).

The anime won the grand prize at Japan Media Arts Festival in 2010 for animation category. Despite all these accolades, it is rated 17+ and there were scenes that got criticized as being graphic when they aired on television in 2011-2012 season due to their content.

39. When They Cry: Kai

When They Cry: Kai

This anime is based on its visual novel. This anime was released back in 2007 and has 24 episodes, which makes for good binge-watching. It also has a spin-off and an adaptation as well.

The story here is about Rika who lives happy life but mysterious deaths rock the village she’s determined to find out however this would make you watch it till the final episode with moments of despair, hopelessness tragedy all along.

38. Toradora!

Toradora!

If you’re a fan of romantic comedies, then Toradora! is definitely for you. The anime and its light novel have been extremely successful in Japan’s market thus far, with the PSP game being no exception to that rule.

If there’s one thing about this story I can assure fans it would be how relatable these themes are despite coming from an adaptation based off another source material too – love triangles, tense moments between characters as their relationships develop throughout the show or otherwise;

Twists will surprise viewers at every corner after all if they haven’t seen it yet themselves! In fact each character has proven essential enough to not only move along plot points but also provide entertainment value on top of everything else at hand here either through comedic relief

37. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU Climax

If you’ve been looking for an anime that has a little twist in it, then give this one a shot. 

The characterization is just average and some of the twists are quite predictable but still enjoyable to watch. Each episode is well connected with each other;

However, I would recommend watching them all in order as what connects the plot together is their chronology.

36. Nodame Cantabile

Nodame Cantabile

This anime is 23 episodes long. It’s a slice of life story about music, romance and following your dreams that will be sure to keep you entertained for hours at a time!

Though this reduces the potential of the anime, it works well because if there were too much going on in one episode then viewers would lose interest quickly.

This series has little subplots which makes it easy to watch from start to finish without getting bored or overwhelmed by what might happen next.

The best part of Nodame Cantabile is how interesting its plot keeps things even though they are short stories with few characters since having longer plots can make them less engaging when done wrong.

35. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time: Best School Anime To Watch

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

This anime is based on the novel, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.

Though it has only 01:38 minutes of entertainment, this short film involves a lot of introspection and calculations about how small acts can cause huge impacts in life that don’t necessarily occur to us right away;

Moreover, these disproportionate setbacks are dealt with unforgettable things by the protagonist.

34. The Quintessential Quintuplets 2

The Quintessential Quintuplets 2

The Quintessential Quintuplets 2 is a recent anime that just finished airing in March 2021. It was 12 episodes long and has a prequel which you should watch to get more context for this plot.

The idea behind it addresses the harem set up on school theme, but with an open-end climax so there’s room left for new releases later down the line! This would tempt you to watch its sequel;

However, like many companies these days (the creators of QQ2 included), leaving gaps between seasons and manga chapters are common practices by producers hoping we’ll come back once they release updates or extensions of their work. 

The source material used here were some successful comics known as “manga” – commercially speaking at least.”

33. Silver Spoon 2nd Season: Best School Anime

Silver Spoon 2nd Season

Silver Spoon 2nd Season is a great show that you cannot afford to miss. The empathetic plot conveys many meanings and doesn’t come off as preachy.

There are some parts in the story which can be skipped if desired, but it’s best not to skip any of them since they’re symbolic too!

You should try watching Silver Spoon 1st season before starting with this one so you know what’s going on better because sometimes there are references back to episodes or seasons previous—this isn’t necessary though;

It just enhances your viewing experience even more by recognizing certain characters from earlier seasons who make reappearances later on (or knowing their traits).

32. Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai

Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai

Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is a must-watch anime for those who like shorter series.

With only 13 episodes, it’s an easy watch if you want something lighter and more suspenseful than other mystery shows.

The story follows Sakuta Azusagawa as he tries to solve Adolescence Syndrome that has been plaguing his classmates at school after they all experienced strange dreams about the same bunny girl in white named Mai Sakurajima before disappearing from their lives completely with no memory of her ever being there in the first place.

If you enjoy this show enough, I recommend getting into its sequel which was less popular but still manages to be quite fun too!

31. Grisaia No Kajitsu

Grisaia No Kajitsu

The show follows the journey of Yuuji Kazami, a newly admitted student to Mihama Academy.

This school has only female students and they all have troubled pasts that are causing harm to them which is why he decides take it upon himself to save them from their predicaments.

With this 13 episode long series airing in 2004 as an adaptation of its visual novel (Grisaia no Kajitsu), we get our dose of harem romance behind a psychological thriller with content rated R+.

Recommended read: Top 50 Best Fantasy Anime Of All Time

30. Magi: The Kingdom Of Magic

Magi: The Kingdom Of Magic

Though the adaptation is excellent, it does not capture all that The Kingdom of Magic has.

The anime follows Alibaba and his friends as they go on a journey to expand their company’s business. 

There are 25 episodes in total which you can watch at your own pace without having to wait for new releases every week or two!

29. Ouran High School Host Club: Best Romantic School Anime series

This 26-episode long anime is a hit and that’s boosted the popularity of its manga.

The story revolves around Haruhi Fujioka who accidently breaks a costly antique vase belonging to Ouran high school host club, so she has to work for them as punishment. 

The stereotyping in this show isn’t great either along with not impressive soundtracks making it all less enjoyable from what you’d expect from an adaptation like this one based on such popular source material which could have been done much better if only they paid more attention while working on their sequencing too or at least showed some consistency throughout instead of trying way too hard by changing things up every now & then unnecessarily just because they can!

28. Beelzebub: Anime Where MC Are High School Students

Beelzebub

Yes, Beelzebub is a long anime series with 60 episodes. It aired in 2011 and 2012. 

The manga from which it’s adapted has been around since 2004 so there was plenty of source material to adapt into an entire season if need be!

The shounen drama resonated well with that audience along elements such as demons and supernatural themes made for thrilling viewing throughout the seasons.

Ishiyama High School for delinquents plays host to anarchy and chaos during Oga’s time at high school where he finds himself unexpectedly paired up with the son of Demon Lord who doesn’t know who his father is or what family business entails!

27. Gamers!

Gamers!

Gamers! Is a must-watch if you’re a die-hard gamer.

The story takes an exciting turn when Keito Amano meets Karen Tendou, the president of his school’s video games club.

Gamers is quite recent (2017) though it was adapted from its light novels which are older than this concept has another adaptation for anime fans to enjoy and appreciate more since they have been following both versions closely.

26. Suzumiya Haruhi No Shoushitsu

Suzumiya Haruhi No Shoushitsu

” The title makes the plot quite obvious: It can be translated as – “The disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya.”

The world recognizes that she is missing and it’s stranger than usual because memories have also gone missing, hardly anyone remembers her existence or brigade!

What unfolds will shock you in this anime based on a Kobe Award winning novel series by Nagaru Tanigawa.

25. Food Wars! The Second Plate

Food Wars! The Second Plate

The protagonist is the new kid on the block in Totsuki Academy, an elite culinary school.

He has to face off against various students who seem like they might tear him apart but only if he doesn’t have a taste for victory!

The story of Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma revolves around its main character Yukihira Souma and his dream about becoming a full-fledged cook at his father’s restaurant.

His dad sends him to this cooking academy where there are many skilled chefs from all over Japan that would love nothing more than crush poor little Souma into powder with their skills!

After getting sent away by some angry cooks during training one day, Soumas master returns just as pissed off though – it seems her kitchen

24. The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K.

The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K.

Despite the average art and animation, this anime is worth watching.

The plot was brilliant because all of its characters will be remembered by viewers due to how often they are on screen and what unforgettable things they do.

This comes from two reasons: one- it’s sourced from a manga; two – every character gets their moment in time without forcing any onto the story.

It has an adaptation with another season coming out soon so make sure you don’t miss out!

23. Kuzu No Honkai

Kuzu No Honkai

Kuzu No Honkai translate as “Scum’s Wish” is a 12 episode long anime series that aired in 2017.

The source material was the manga, which turned out to be successful commercially. Hanabi and Mugi are the main characters of this story who come across as perfect on paper but there’s more than meets they eye since both of them find themselves attracted to people outside their marriage.

This results in conflict within them while it also tells us about how pressure can take its toll on anyone- even though we may think our lives seem very different from others’.

It might not have received positive ratings with graphic scenes and language featured but definitely worth your time!

22. Sukitte Ii Na Yo: Best High School Anime Movie

Sukitte Ii Na Yo.

“Sukitte Ii na yo” is a Japanese romance film. It tells the story of Mei Tachibana, who finds it hard to express herself after almost getting convicted for murder as a teenager.

Years later she meets Yamato Kurosawa and he helps her open up again.

The movie was released in 2012 and adapted from its manga series which has over ten volumes now!

21. Chihayafuru 2

Chihayafuru 2

Fans cannot contain their excitement when Chihayafuru 2 came out in 2012. Viewers were expecting to see more episodes of pure entertainment, and they got what they wanted with 25 additional ones!

This sequel makes it rank on this list because there are heartwarming scenes and tear-worthy events that will take you for a roller coaster ride;

The wide variety of characters also make it even more interesting since not one character is unnecessary – everything plays its part perfectly within this slice of life show.

Also read: Top 30 Best Wolf Anime Of All Time

20. Doukyuusei

Doukyuusei

Doukyuusei is an anime movie based on its manga. It was ranked purely on the impact and not for any other reasons like story, character development or animation style which many people don’t think are strong in this film anyway.

Some viewers labeled it as a Yaoi Anime but there were others who didn’t find anything objectionable about what they watched and thought that the art-style of characters had been done well too:

Making them easier to understand with each passing minute even if you haven’t seen their types before.

The emotional drama unfolds gradually so be prepared!

19. Kono Oto Tomare! 2nd Season

Kono Oto Tomare! 2nd Season

Kono Oto Tomare! 2nd Season is based on the manga under the same name. It has a prequel (Season 1) and an adaptation as well.

This show had excellent production values, such as its premise and soundtrack making it more interesting to watch than most other anime out there with similar concepts or plots.

It also did a good job in creating a foundation for what was going to happen next which made me think that this could have been even better if they continued doing so into later seasons – I just hope we get another one someday soon since some people seem confused about whether it’s really classified as being musical-themed despite only having one aspect of it appear throughout both series’.

18. Non Non Biyori Nonstop

Non Non Biyori Nonstop

This anime’s time flow is brilliant. The characters and plot appear to be more natural than realistic, making it feel as though you’re a part of the story yourself.

It will make you believe that these are your friends too- some have little screen time but impactful enough for an unforgettable experience!

17. Tsurezure Children: High School Anime Comedy

Tsurezure Children

If you’re looking for a comedy-shounen anime, this is it. The perfect backdrop of school makes it wonderful.The hilarious episodes also add to its popularity with names like Katori, Ayaka, Yuki and Kana who will entertain you along the way.

This depicts the story of love blooming between young minds during adolescence which has special significance among viewers as well.(This was rated PG – 13).

It first aired in 2017 followed by an adaptation that got released later on.There are no specific protagonists here either but rather everyone’s involved!

16. Rokudenashi Majutsu Koushi To Akashic Records: Best Magic School Anime With OP MC

Rokudenashi Majutsu Koushi To Akashic Records

A 2017 anime that won the hearts of many fans, it even created a cult following.

The dramatic events after one instructor was replaced caused havoc in Alzano Empire where the story takes place – at an esteemed academy imparting magical knowledge and training students to become magicians.”

15. Your Lie In April

Your Lie In April

If you haven’t seen the prequel, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso: Moments, don’t watch your lie in April.

It’s very different from most anime and has a lot of tragedy with things going wrong but it also fits into the Rom-Com genre because there is hope throughout all these unfortunate events.

14. Slam Dunk: Best High School Anime

Slam Dunk

Slam Dunk is one of the best older generation anime, and it’s a series with an interesting sports shounen touch. This plot has many side stories that make this singular one.

It’s an anime that fans avoid but those who have watched will be glued to it till the end because of its 101 episodes!

The intended purpose was to introduce basketball in Japan which would connect well back then; however for western viewers, they might find it boring due to hyper-focus on basketball.

13. Ansatsu Kyoushitsu 2nd Season: Action School Anime

Ansatsu Kyoushitsu 2nd Season

The best action-comedy released in 2016. It was well received across multiple formats and categories, including a side story adaptation of the original series which also got good reviews from critics for its narrative structure that follows different characters’ perspectives.

The comedy scenes were popular with audiences who connected to them on an emotional level due to their relatability factor as they touched people’s hearts at times when there is harsh crisis ahead – it can be seen as something akin To Robin Sharma’s book “Motivate through stories.” 

The artwork, animation and characterization are top notch though music could have been better .

It tells a journey about growth & development where once facing hardships new opportunities arise!

12. Great Teacher Onizuka

Great Teacher Onizuka

Great Teacher Onizuka is a slice of life – shounen anime. It’s one of the best-made concepts out there, even impressing those who aren’t fans for its genre.

That’s because it’s hard to connect plot points in this type of series but at least they have great opening and closing tracks with excellent animation on top which contributes to why it falls lower here in ranking despite having good moral messages subtly hidden within each episode.

11. Ace Of Diamond

Ace Of Diamond

Ace of Diamond is more than just a shounen anime about baseball. It’s 75 episodes long and feels like an epic, so you’ll feel invested in the characters and their struggles to win nationals. 

Sawamura was once defeated at a match which caused him to vow he’d take home national champion one day with his own strength but first, he has to train for it…so much training!

Luckily help comes from Seidou High School scout who enrolls Sawamura into the prestigious school that will bring out even greater results as challenging obstacles come forth along this journey towards Nationals-level competition including harsh truth after joining its ranks…making Ace of Diamond worth watching!

Check: Top 14 Best Basketball Anime Of All Time

10. Horimiya

Horimiya

“Horimiya is a well-polished and articulated anime. This is one such anime where you’ll get to know what to expect,” said the movie review website, Rotten Tomatoes.

“The beginning of it has been perfectly coordinated and well planned.” 

“It’s however laden with clichés and just does above usual rom-com.” The reviewer criticized some aspects of this school life romance story but still praised its execution overall:

“But, [it] ranked higher up here due to perfection.””This animated series also conveys that there exists a hidden side in people which we may not always see on our own terms,” according from IMDb user Kallie Haecker who gave Horomiyas 5/5

9. My Hero Academia 2

My Hero Academia 2

My Hero Academia 2 is the second season of a household name. It’s an anime with a superpower touch and requires little introduction.

The release date for Season 2 was well planned, which carried forward from its momentum in Season 1 becoming one of the most popular shows ever created about Izuku Midoriya who became storynted but poor performer.”

8. Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War?

Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War?

Fans of seinen anime would find this to be a good watch. It’s ranked higher because it did justice for fans and the artwork isn’t bad either, but there are some problems with narration that can make viewers confused at times.

Overall though, it is funny romantic comedy with specially designed characters only suitable for such kind of plot.”

7. SKET Dance

SKET Dance

SKET Dance is a comedy anime. It was an adaptation of its manga and first aired in 2011 with 77 episodes that made it a long saga.

SKET stands for Support, Kindness, Encouragement, and Troubleshoot which are the supporting characters as well as protagonist equally influence plot progression.

The story takes place at Kaimei High School where the SKET Brigade headquarters based on Usui who’s able to concentrate deeply despite spending time not doing much but doesn’t hesitate when there’s demand from his leader Yuusuke having ability to focus intensely .

6. Mob Psycho 100: Best School Anime With OP MC

Mob Psycho 100

This second season of the anime is about Mob, who tries to impress Tsubomi. It was a great success commercially and as an art but some said it’s bland or plain while others say it’s too “slice of life” for comfort;

Maybe that’s because they want you to watch first season before this one?

The psychic power Shigeo ‘Mob’ centers on in story struggling hard with love interest – Tsubomi.

5. Haikyuu!! Second Season

Haikyuu!! Second Season

Brand Haikyuu!! is quite popular among anime fans. It’s a sports comedy-drama with interesting and dramatic scenes, never boring! 

The concept was backed by the manga which had many variants of it due to its popularity. This 2016 25 episode season 2 anime is about hard work, skills, teamwork and hunger driving a basketball team forward in victory!

4. Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen

If you’re interested in watching this anime, watch its prequel first. It’s not extremely popular but it is really worth checking out.

There are some graphic scenes so be prepared for that!

The entire show has 24 episodes and they all have a gripping story line with demons too which makes the series even more exciting to watch because there will never be dull moments I promise!

3. Charlotte

Charlotte

Charlotte is a 2015 anime series of 13 episodes that was rated Pg -13, which makes it suitable for general viewing.

The reason why this show became so popular and household name has to do with its plot and the superb direction.

It mixes drama, supernatural elements into one main stream along with school element as well where we see how important it plays in influencing the protagonist’s character development throughout his experiences at high-school life;

All these genres mix together very nicely giving out great output set on making viewers intrigued by what they will be seeing next.

2. Kimi No Na Wa

Kimi No Na Wa

Before we go into what Kimi no Na wa means, you should know that it has won a lot of awards.

It ranked 2nd on this list because it’s so popular and the story is amazing! Some of its awards include: LAFCA Animation Award | Best Animated Film in 2017 | Grand Prize Award 

The plot itself may be predictable at times but doesn’t stop anyone from enjoying it.

The story of Mistuha and Taki, who end up getting into each other’s body mentally is a must watch.

The soundtrack and music are awesome; it’s something you can enjoy at your home theatre or with some speakers on.

While the character development was good, there isn’t much detail in this movie which might be disappointing for people looking to get more out of their experience watching anime movies like A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi).

1. Koe No Katachi: Best School Anime

Koe No Katachi

Koe no Katachi is a wonderful anime. It has so many subplots that veer off the main one, and some of them would be absent from the source material (manga) itself! 

The animation was precise and followed what we saw in the manga; this made readers recognize it easily.

The theme song was praised by critics, as well as overall soundtrack too: awesome! Finally, I can translate its title to English – “A silent voice”.

“A Silent Voice” is a classic tale of revenge and redemption. In this story, Nishimiya has been bullied by Ishida for years because she’s deaf.

After learning that the bullying was causing her to have suicidal thoughts, he decides to apologize when they meet in high school again—eight years later!

This decision puts him through a rollercoaster ride of emotions as you travel from anger and despair all the way up until happiness at their reunion.

Also read: Top 50 Best Demon Anime [Fan Favourite Devil Anime]

Conclusion

This list is one of many school anime lists available online.

While I made this after extensive reading, it’s important to take into account that everyone has their own opinion and what may be higher or lower for me might not match with your preferences.

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Author: ruoip

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