High school shows can be ridiculously comforting. For many of us, it’s a nostalgia trip. If you’re craving something messy, awkward, but deeply relatable, new high school shows on Disney+ are waiting for you.
We are here to add a few titles to your watchlist, listed in alphabetical order, that capture the chaos of coming of age perfectly: . Pprepare for a few legendary throwbacks as well as modern picks. You’ll most likely want to binge-watch them while multitasking with a college essay writer or just doom-scrolling. So, settle it and enjoy!
A.N.T. Farm (2011–2014)
Created by: Dan Signer
Starring: China Anne McClain, Sierra McCormick, Jake Short, Stefanie Scott
Chyna Parks (China Anne McClain) walks into Webster High as an 11-year-old music prodigy, and, as such, she’s immediately enrolled in the school’s Advanced Natural Talents (A.N.T.) program. Soon, she meets other pupils who are each gifted in a different way: the two people with whom she’ll bond the most are Olive Doyle (Sierra McCormick), who memorizes everything, and Fletcher Quimby (Jake Short), who sees the world in sketches. Yet, you’ll soon see that being gifted doesn’t translate into being popular, and school bully Lexi Reed (Stefanie Scott) makes sure they remember that.
What’s it like to be in the classroom where everyone is older than you and still trying to navigate high school? This show isn’t about realism, but if you want a light comedy that might be even a bit cartoony, this is the right pick for you. Expect drama, teenage crushes, and fun characters who grow up a great deal over this Disney Channel-turned Disney+ show’s three seasons.
Hannah Montana (2006–2011)
Created by: Michael Poryes, Rich Correll, Barry O’Brien
Starring: Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Jason Earles, Billy Ray Cyrus
Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus) has two lives and a very tight schedule. A regular teen by day and a famous pop star by night. (A blond wig does all of the work in this makeover!.), Miley wants a normal life while still craving to be a successful musician.
Her best friend, Lilly Truscott (Emily Osment), helps guard the secret, and her brother, Jackson Stewart (Jason Earles), supplies the perfect amount of sibling chaos. Robby Ray Stewart (Billy Ray Cyrus) plays dad and manager. This sounds helpful until you remember that dads have opinions.The show had massive popularity, with its peak episode hitting 10.7 million viewers and the finale even setting a new record for Disney. If you want to dive into high school classics, this sitcom is a solid watch on Disney Plus.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019–2023)
Created by: Tim Federle
Starring: Joshua Bassett, Olivia Rodrigo, Sofia Wylie, Matt Cornett
Enter East High and join its students while they stage a production of High School Musical. Here’s what’s interesting: it’s not like the original movies. This show is a mockumentary, but it’s set exactly where the movies were filmed. This, alone, makes the series intriguing.
Ricky Bowen (Joshua Bassett) signs up with messy motives. Nini Salazar-Roberts (Olivia Rodrigo) wants to trust her own voice. Gina Porter (Sofia Wylie) arrives with talent and a guarded edge. EJ Caswell (Matt Cornett) tries to hold onto control as the show pulls him sideways. By the way, the series became a launchpad for the actors and made Olivia Rodrigo a true superstar.
It’s a great pick for musicals for high school. If you like The Office-style format, definitely pay attention to High School Musical. You’ll enjoy original hits and classic covers.
Liv and Maddie (2013–2017)
Created by: John D. Beck, Ron Hart
Starring: Dove Cameron, Joey Bragg, Tenzing Norgay Trainor
Liv Rooney (Dove Cameron) comes home after years in Hollywood, expecting the world to feel like it paused for her. It didn’t. Her twin, Maddie Rooney (Dove Cameron), is already anchored in her school reputation. The most impressive feat of the show is that both title characters are played by a single actress, Dove Cameron. The core comedy in this series is the differences between Liv and Maddie, who have very distinct (and opposite) personalities.
Their brothers, Joey Rooney (Joey Bragg) and Parker Rooney (Tenzing Norgay Trainor), add chaos in the way younger siblings do: casually, constantly, and with complete confidence.
The show also uses a mockumentary format, which allows the characters to speak up about their inner thoughts and make jokes.
Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012)
Created by: Todd J. Greenwald
Starring: Selena Gomez, David Henrie, Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone
Alex Russo (Selena Gomez) is a teenage wizard with a gift for making things worse. Doesn’t that sound fun? Her brother Justin Russo (David Henrie) is the opposite. He plays by the rules and studies hard. Max Russo (Jake T. Austin) treats wizard training like an optional hobby. The family twist gives the show a real conflict, because only one sibling gets to keep their powers forever.
This one earns its spot in any conversation about the best high school shows on Disney+. It balances a typical high school sitcom with urban fantasy. The show has a distinct New York vibe, centered around the family’s business, the Waverly Sub Station.
Why did Alex Russo become so popular? Teenagers are tired of “perfect” TV characters, so a sarcastic and selfish girl has easily become relatable to the viewers.
High school on TV can be a little ridiculous, and that is the point. These 5 high school shows are all available on Disney Plus, and you’ll enjoy their chaos, believe us.