55 High School Related Anime To Watch

Think of Anime and you think of Japanese cartoons! And why not?

After all, Japanese animations account for 60 percent of the world’s animations. Anime has been able to cross-cultural and language barriers to mesmerize the Western world. 

Particularly captivating are high school anime with young themes of romance, drama, science fiction, etc.

Choosing an anime to watch can be a fun process! Here are some steps to help you select an anime that you’ll enjoy:

1. Identify Your Interests: Think about what genres you enjoy. Anime covers a wide range of genres including action, romance, comedy, slice-of-life, horror, science fiction, fantasy, drama, and more.
2. Read Reviews and Ratings: Look up reviews and ratings on anime websites like MyAnimeList, AniList, or IMDb. These sites often provide detailed information and user reviews that can help you decide.
3. Check Out Recommendations: Ask friends or join online communities and forums to get recommendations. Websites like Reddit have specific threads for anime suggestions.
4. Watch Trailers: Watching trailers can give you a good sense of the animation style, plot, and whether the anime might appeal to you.
5. Consider the Studio: Some animation studios have a reputation for producing high-quality anime. Studios like Studio Ghibli, Madhouse, Kyoto Animation, and Bones are known for their work.
6. Look for Award-Winning or Popular Anime: Award-winning or highly popular anime are often a good starting point. Titles like Attack on Titan, Naruto, Your Name, and Demon Slayer have broad appeal.
7. Read the Synopsis: Reading the synopsis or summary of the anime can help you understand the plot and see if it aligns with your interests.
8. Check Episode Count: Decide how much time you want to invest. Some anime have many episodes (like One Piece), while others are shorter (like Death Note).
9. Consider Dub/Sub Preferences: Some people prefer watching anime with subtitles (subbed), while others prefer dubbed versions in their native language. Make sure the version you prefer is available.
10. Explore Genre Mixes: Some anime combines multiple genres, which can provide a more rounded experience. For instance, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood combines action, fantasy, and drama.

High school Anime

High school anime encompasses a variety of genres and themes. Here are some different types of high school anime:

1. Slice of Life

These anime series offer a mix of humor, emotional depth, and relatable experiences, capturing the essence of high school life in a slice-of-life format.

1. Clannad: Follows Tomoya Okazaki, a delinquent student, as he forms meaningful relationships with his classmates, especially Nagisa Furukawa, and navigates the ups and downs of high school life.
2. Toradora: Centers on Ryuuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka, who form an unlikely friendship to help each other with their respective crushes, leading to unexpected developments in their lives.
3. March Comes in Like a Lion (3-gatsu no Lion): Although it primarily focuses on the protagonist’s career as a professional shogi player, it delves deeply into his high school life and personal relationships, highlighting themes of loneliness and support.
4. Hyouka: Follows Houtarou Oreki, a high school student who joins the Classic Literature Club and, along with his friends, solves various mysteries and learns about himself and others.
5. Azumanga Daioh: Follows a group of quirky high school girls and their teachers, focusing on their daily interactions, friendships, and humorous experiences.

2. Romance

These anime series offer a variety of romantic narratives, from lighthearted and comedic to deeply emotional and dramatic, all set within the high school environment.

1. Your Lie in April (Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso): Centers around Kousei Arima, a piano prodigy, and his emotional journey with Kaori Miyazono, a spirited violinist.
2. Kimi ni Todoke: Focuses on Sawako Kuronuma, a shy and misunderstood girl, and her growing relationship with the popular and kind Shouta Kazehaya.
3. Ao Haru Ride: Follows the rekindled romance between Futaba Yoshioka and her middle school crush, Kou Mabuchi, as they navigate high school life.
4. Lovely Complex: A comedic and touching story about Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Ootani, who struggle with their height difference and their feelings for each other.
5. My Little Monster (Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun): Explores the unlikely relationship between Shizuku Mizutani, a studious girl, and Haru Yoshida, a troublemaker.

3. Comedy

   These anime series offer a great mix of humor, eccentric characters, and entertaining storylines, making them perfect for those looking for a good laugh in a high school setting.

1. Nichijou (My Ordinary Life): Follows the absurd and hilarious daily lives of three high school girls and their classmates, filled with surreal and unexpected humor.
2. Ouran High School Host Club: Centers around Haruhi Fujioka, who accidentally stumbles into the school’s host club, leading to a series of comedic and romantic adventures with the club members.
3. Gintama: Although not exclusively set in high school, it features many school-related episodes and arcs filled with over-the-top humor and parody.
4. Assassination Classroom (Ansatsu Kyoushitsu): Combines comedy with action as a class of misfit students attempts to assassinate their alien teacher, Koro-sensei, who plans to destroy Earth.
5. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (Saiki Kusuo no Psi-nan): Follows the life of Saiki Kusuo, a high school student with extraordinary psychic powers, and the hilarious situations he encounters while trying to live a normal life.

4. Drama

These anime series offer a rich blend of emotional storytelling, character development, and poignant themes, making them compelling and impactful dramas set in high school environments.

1. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai)**: A group of childhood friends are brought back together by the ghost of their deceased friend, Menma, as they deal with unresolved feelings and past trauma.
2. A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi): Centers on Shoya Ishida, who seeks redemption by making amends with Shoko Nishimiya, a deaf girl he bullied in elementary school, as they navigate high school life.
3. True Tears: Focuses on Shinichirou Nakagami and his complicated relationships with three girls, each dealing with their own emotional issues and personal growth.
4. Hanasaku Iroha: Follows Ohana Matsumae, who moves to the countryside to work at her grandmother’s inn, discovering friendship, love, and personal growth along the way.
5. Angel Beats!: Set in a high school that serves as a limbo for students with unfinished business, it follows Otonashi as he joins a group fighting against their fate, exploring themes of life, death, and acceptance.

5. Supernatural/Fantasy

These anime series offer a thrilling blend of high school life with supernatural themes, creating intriguing and often intense narratives.

1. Fruits Basket: Tohru Honda discovers the Sohma family, whose members transform into animals of the Chinese zodiac when hugged by the opposite sex, leading to a mix of romantic, comedic, and dramatic moments.
2. Rosario + Vampire: Tsukune Aono accidentally enrolls in a school for monsters, where he befriends and falls for Moka Akashiya, a vampire with a dual personality.
3. Vampire Knight: Follows Yuki Cross, who attends Cross Academy, a school with a secret: it has a Day Class for humans and a Night Class for vampires, leading to romantic and supernatural conflicts.
4. Parasyte -the maxim- (Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu): Follows Shinichi Izumi, a high school student partially infected by a parasitic alien, leading to a struggle between humanity and the invading parasites.
5. Another: Involves a cursed classroom where students and their families die under mysterious circumstances, leading Koichi Sakakibara and his classmate Mei Misaki to unravel the dark secrets behind the curse.

6. Sports

These anime series highlight the dedication, teamwork, and personal growth associated with high school sports, providing both excitement and emotional depth.

1. Haikyuu!!: Follows Shoyo Hinata, a passionate volleyball player with dreams of becoming a great player despite his short stature, and his journey with the Karasuno High volleyball team.
2. Kuroko no Basket (Kuroko’s Basketball): Centers on Tetsuya Kuroko and Taiga Kagami as they work to make Seirin High School’s basketball team the best in Japan by defeating Kuroko’s former teammates, the “Generation of Miracles.”
3. Free! – Iwatobi Swim Club: Follows Haruka Nanase and his friends as they form the Iwatobi High School swim team and strive to compete at a national level while overcoming personal and team challenges.
4. Yuri!!! on ICE: Centers on figure skater Yuri Katsuki as he returns to competitive skating under the guidance of his idol, Victor Nikiforov, and competes against other talented skaters.
5. Ace of Diamond (Diamond no Ace): Focuses on Eijun Sawamura, a talented pitcher, and his experiences with the Seidou High School baseball team as they aim to compete in the national tournament.

7. Action/Adventure

These anime series offer a mix of high-octane action, strategic battles, and the complexities of high school life, making them thrilling and engaging for viewers.

1. My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia): Follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without superpowers in a world where they are common, as he enrolls in U.A. High School to become a hero and protect society.
2. Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin): Although not entirely set in a high school, it features young trainees, including Eren Yeager, who fight against gigantic humanoid Titans threatening humanity.
3. Blue Exorcist (Ao no Exorcist): Centers on Rin Okumura, the son of Satan, who joins True Cross Academy to become an exorcist and battle against demonic forces.
4. Assassination Classroom (Ansatsu Kyoushitsu): A class of misfit students is tasked with assassinating their alien teacher, Koro-sensei, who plans to destroy Earth, blending action with comedy and drama.
5. Tokyo Ghoul: Follows Ken Kaneki, a college student turned half-ghoul, as he navigates a dangerous world where humans and ghouls coexist and clash.

8. Science Fiction

  These anime series offer a mix of futuristic settings, advanced technologies, and the trials and tribulations of high school life, providing thrilling and thought-provoking narratives.

1. Steins; Gate: Centers on Rintarou Okabe, a self-proclaimed mad scientist who, along with his friends, accidentally discovers a method of time travel, leading to complex and dramatic consequences.
2. The Irregular at Magic High School (Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei): Set in a future where magic is scientifically advanced, it follows siblings Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba at a prestigious magic high school, blending elements of science fiction and fantasy.
3. A Certain Scientific Railgun (Toaru Kagaku no Railgun): Follows Mikoto Misaka, an electro master esper, and her friends in Academy City, a place filled with advanced technology and individuals with supernatural abilities.
4. Darling in the Franxx: In a post-apocalyptic future, children are trained to pilot giant mechs called Franxx to defend humanity, focusing on the relationship between pilots Hiro and Zero Two.
5. Guilty Crown: Follows Shu Ouma, a high school student who gains the “Power of Kings” to extract weapons from people’s hearts, and becomes involved in a resistance against a totalitarian regime.

9. Horror/Mystery

   These anime series blend high school life with elements of horror, suspense, and psychological thrills, creating intense and often chilling narratives.

1. Corpse Party: Tortured Souls: Based on the horror video game series, it follows a group of high school students who perform a friendship ritual that goes wrong, trapping them in a haunted elementary school where they face gruesome deaths.
2. School of the Dead: Centers on a group of high school students who must survive a zombie apocalypse that breaks out in their city, blending horror with action and survival elements.
3. Shiki: Although not strictly set in a high school, it involves high school-aged characters in a rural village where a series of mysterious deaths occur, revealing a hidden vampiric threat.
4. Dusk Maiden of Amnesia (Tasogare Otome x Amnesia): Follows Teiichi Niiya, who encounters the ghost of a girl named Yuko Kanoe at his school. Together, they investigate the mysteries surrounding her death and the hauntings at the school.
5. Paranoia Agent (Mousou Dairinin): While not entirely a high school anime, it includes episodes focused on high school students who encounter a mysterious attacker known as Lil’ Slugger, leading to psychological horror and societal commentary.

10. Music

These anime series blend the excitement and challenges of high school life with the passion and dedication of pursuing music, offering engaging and emotionally resonant narratives.

1. K-On!: Centers on a group of high school girls who form a light music club. The series follows their journey as they bond over music, practice, and perform together.
2. Nodame Cantabile: Although it primarily focuses on college students, it follows the story of Shinichi Chiaki, a perfectionist musician, and Megumi “Nodame” Noda, a free-spirited pianist, exploring their growth and relationship through music.
3. Hibike! Euphonium (Sound! Euphonium): Follows Kumiko Oumae and her friends as they join their high school’s concert band, striving to compete in national competitions and improve their musical skills.
4. Love Live! School Idol Project: Centers on a group of high school girls who form an idol group to save their school from closing down. They aim to become popular idols while balancing school life and their musical ambitions.
5. La Corda d’Oro (Kiniro no Corda): Follows Kahoko Hino, a high school student who receives a magical violin that allows her to participate in the school’s prestigious music competition, despite having no prior musical experience.

11. Psychological

These anime series provide engaging and thought-provoking narratives that explore the psychological complexities of their characters and situations.

1. Classroom of the Elite (Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e): Follows Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, a student at an elite high school where students are ranked by merit. The series explores the psychological manipulations and social dynamics among the students.
2. Death Note: Centers on Light Yagami, a high school student who gains the power to kill anyone by writing their name in a supernatural notebook. The series delves into themes of morality, justice, and psychological warfare between Light and Detective L.
3. Future Diary (Mirai Nikki): Follows Yukiteru Amano, who becomes part of a deadly survival game involving other diary holders with future-predicting diaries. The series explores the psychological impact of life-and-death situations.
4. Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica): While not set entirely in a high school, it follows middle school students who become magical girls, revealing dark and psychological themes as they face the consequences of their wishes.
5. ReLIFE: A 27-year-old man is given a chance to relive his high school years in a scientific experiment. The series explores themes of regret, growth, and the impact of past experiences on present behavior

Of Course, these genres are often intermixed together, which adds layers to their complexity and character.

In fact, they can become so addictive that you might want to start your own high school student group for Anime fans! In the meantime, have a look at these 150-plus name ideas for student groups!