The Worst Episodes of Abbott Elementary
Every episode of Abbott Elementary ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Abbott Elementary!
In this workplace comedy, 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.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "Abbott Elementary" is "New Tech", rated 7.5/10 from 1245 user votes. It was directed by Randall Einhorn and written by Brian Rubenstein. "New Tech" aired on 1/18/2022 and is rated 0.0 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "Art Teacher".
7.5/10 1,245 votes#1 - 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 with something. Barbara is reluctant to accept change and finds herself in a tricky situation. Melissa surprises Jacob.
Director: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Brian Rubenstein
7.5/10 1,116 votes#2 - 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
Director: Jennifer Celotta
Writer: Kate Peterman
7.5/10 913 votes#3 - 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.
Director: Jaime Eliezer Karas
Writer: Jordan Temple
7.5/10 892 votes#4 - 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.
Director: Jaime Eliezer Karas
Writer: Ava Coleman
7.5/10 736 votes#5 - 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.
Director: Geeta Malik
Writer: Joya McCrory
7.5/10 466 votes#6 - 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.
Director: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Justin Tan
7.6/10 1,789 votes#7 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 12/7/2021
When the staff relates their needs, Principal Ava presents alternative options.
Director: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Quinta Brunson
7.6/10 623 votes#8 - Gregory's Garden Goofballs
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 2/14/2024
Gregory is hesitant when kids start hanging out in his classroom at lunch, looking to him for advice; Barbara is shocked to find Tariq is dating the mother of one of her students; Janine and Jacob try to hire an ASL interpreter.
Director: Justin Tan
Writer: Brian Rubenstein
7.6/10 627 votes#9 - 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.
Director: Jennifer Celotta
Writer: Britanni Nichols
7.6/10 568 votes#10 - Panel
Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 3/20/2024
Ava and Gregory are invited to speak on a panel about public schools. Elsewhere, the other teachers must complete CPR training, and Janine faces challenges securing district approval for her librarian extension program.
Director: Claire Scanlon
Writer: Kate Peterman
7.6/10 483 votes#11 - 2 Ava 2 Fest
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 4/17/2024
Ava Fest is back, and with the help of the teachers, Ava’s set on outdoing last year by any means necessary. After Janine accepts the offer for a full-time position at the district, she just has to check off one last thing to make it official.
Director: Ken Whittingham
Writer: Joya McCroy
7.6/10 453 votes#12 - 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.
Director: Richie Edelson
Writer: Riley Dufurrena
7.7/10 1,479 votes#13 - Light Bulb
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 1/4/2022
Janine takes it upon herself to fix every problem when she notices a flicking light bulb in the hallway. Gregory asks Barbara for help talking to a parent, which leads him to spend his lunch period in an unexpected way.
Director: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Quinta Brunson
7.7/10 1,204 votes#14 - Student Transfer
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 1/25/2022
After a negative teacher review, Janine gets a confidence boost when a student gets transferred from Melissa's class into hers. Jacob tries to forge a friendship with an uninterested Gregory.
Director: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Britanni Nichols
7.7/10 1,175 votes#15 - Gifted Program
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 2/1/2022
Janine convinces Ava to start a gifted program at Abbott led by Jacob. However, when some students begin to feel left out, Gregory and Janine put their heads together and come up with a solution. Elsewhere, Barbara pushes a hesitant Melissa to start dating again.
Director: Matt Sohn
Writer: Jordan Temple
7.7/10 788 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.
Director: Melissa Kosar
Writer: Jordan Temple
7.7/10 782 votes#17 - Fire
Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 2/15/2023
Barbara’s candle accidentally starts a small fire in the teacher’s lounge and a counselor suggests that she might not be handling the aftermath well. Meanwhile, Melissa rekindles her childhood dream of being a firefighter.
Director: Jennifer Celotta
Writer: Ava Coleman
7.7/10 486 votes#18 - 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.
Director: Razan Ghalayini
Writer: Garrett Werner
7.8/10 897 votes#19 - The Principal's Office
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/12/2022
After Gregory sends a disruptive student to the principal’s office, he’s dismayed to find out the kids actually enjoy spending the supposed disciplinary time with Ava. Meanwhile, Melissa invites Janine over to her house to teach her how to cook, but Janine becomes determined to reunite Melissa with her estranged sister
Director: Shahrzad Davani
Writer: Britanni Nichols
7.8/10 839 votes#20 - 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 .
Director: Matt Sohn
Writer: Justin Tan
7.8/10 860 votes#21 - Egg Drop
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 11/16/2022
When the eighth-grade science class participates in an egg drop activity, Janine insists her second-grade class joins in. Even when the science teacher and Gregory tell her that her students aren’t ready for physics lessons, Janine is determined to prove them wrong. Then, when Barbara is shocked at the clothing one of her student’s parents wears, she learns to not judge someone solely based on their appearance.
Director: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Joya McCrory
7.8/10 617 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.
Director: Matt Sohn
Writer: Morgan Murphy
7.9/10 1,356 votes#23 - Wishlist
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 1/11/2022
The 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. Janine encourages Gregory to decorate his classroom.
Director: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Morgan Murphy
7.9/10 1,108 votes#24 - Step Class
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 2/22/2022
Janine is thrilled when Ava asks to help her teach the after-school step class, but the two don’t see eye to eye on how to run the program. Later, when Barbara, Melissa and Jacob plan an “eat-off” to decide who makes the best pizza in Philadelphia, Gregory is forced to reveal a secret
Director: Shahrzad Davani
Writer: Joya McCrory
7.9/10 988 votes#25 - Ava vs. Superintendent
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 4/5/2022
With the school board threatening to pull their funds, Janine and Gregory decide to help Ava out with her presentation in front of the Superintendent. However, their plan is derailed when a curveball is thrown at Ava. Meanwhile, Barbara offends Melissa when she doesn’t agree with her blackmail idea.
Director: Matthew A. Cherry
Writer: Britanni Nichols