The Worst Episodes of Abbott Elementary

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.

Director: N/A

Writer: Riley Dufurrena

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.

Director: Randall Keenan Winston

Writer: Morgan Murphy

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

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

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

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

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

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

When the staff relates their needs, Principal Ava presents alternative options.

Director: Randall Einhorn

Writer: Quinta Brunson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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