Where IsAbbott ElementaryFilmed — and How Much of It Is Actually Shot in Philly? All About the Sitcom's Shooting Locations

Mar. 15, 2025

Sheryl Lee Ralph, Taraji P. Henson and Quinta Brunson in ‘Abbott Elementary’.Photo:Gilles Mingasson/ABC via Getty

Gilles Mingasson/ABC via Getty

Abbott Elementary’s writer, executive producer and starQuinta Brunsonknows her acclaimed show’s locale well as she grew up in West Philadelphia, just like her characters.

Abbottis based on a fictional Philadelphia public school and follows Janine Teagues (Brunson), Gregory Eddy (Tyler James Williams), Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and more through their daily trials as teachers.

Since both Brunson and her character have such close ties to Philadelphia, fans of the show have come to associate theEmmy-winningseries with the city. The connection is so strong that Philadelphia Eagles quarterbackJalen Hurtsmade a cameo in the 2024 episode “Career Day Part 2” and Philadelphia-born actorBradley Cooperhad a guest spot in another, “Willard R. Abbott.”

In classic Philly fashion, Brunson joked toThe Philadelphia Inquirerthat her hometown has a real blend of beauty and struggles which made it the perfect place to set the scene forAbbott.

“I was in my mom’s kindergarten class … and back in those days, she’d be teaching 60 kids in one day. That’s some insane Philadelphia school district s—,” she toldPhiladelphia Magazine. “[My mom] was a huge inspiration for the show."

So, where isAbbott Elementaryfilmed? From the classrooms to the school’s exterior, here’s everything we know about the sitcom’s locations.

WasAbbott Elementaryfilmed in Philadelphia?

Tyler James Williams, Quinta Brunson and Janelle James in ‘Abbott Elementary’.Gilles Mingasson/ABC via Getty

WhileAbbott Elementaryis set in Philadelphia, it is not actually filmed there. The school you see in the show is a set built entirely for the purpose of filming the sitcom.

In a profile of Brunson published inThe New Yorker, the publication noted that the “set is supposed to seem as though it has survived decades of hard use: linoleum floors are scuffed; acoustic ceiling tiles are warped and water-stained.” Details like these are likely why Brunson’s show feels so real to viewers.

The show creator has also shared that she sees the city as a key character within the series. “I hate to be corny and ‘Sex and the City’ about it, but Philly totally is a character in the show," she said.

Although most of the show is filmed in Los Angeles, one season 2 episode, set at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute was shot at the real museum. According toFifty Grande, the cast and crew filmed the portions of the episode at the institute in just one day in February 2023.

Two years later, a casting call went out for kid actors to film in Philadelphia from Feb. 27 to March 1, perThe Philly Voice. Brunson later confirmed that the cast was making the trip to film a special episode, despite jokingly trying to dissuade people from showing up on set.

“We got over 3,000 kids in one day to come be part of the production,” the producer toldEntertainment Tonight. “Which, shout out to my city for showing up that way.”

Where isAbbott Elementaryfilmed?

Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams in ‘Abbott Elementary’.ABC

ABC

As is true of many television shows,Abbottis filmed on soundstages at the Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank, Calif. The exterior of the school is a local L.A. elementary school.

The Warner Bros. Studio has had its fair share of major shows filmed on their lots, fromGilmore GirlstoFriends,The Big Bang TheoryandPretty Little Liars.

OtherAbbotton-location shots have been skillfully created to look like classic Philly locations. The season 1 finale, meant to be set at the Philadelphia Zoo, was actually shot at the Descanso Gardens in L.A.

“We wound up seeing Descanso and I was like, ‘Wait a second. This weirdly has the vibe and feel of the Philadelphia Zoo.’ Very beautiful zoo, if you’re ever in Philadelphia,” Brunson toldEntertainment Weeklyin 2022. “The Philadelphia Zoo was so kind and gave us all their decals to put around and make it look real.”

Similarly, when the characters visit Smith Memorial Playground in Philadelphia in season 3, the cast was filming at Griffith Park, per Fifty Grande. Although they didn’t film the episode in the iconic northeast park, the crew of Abbott worked with Smith Memorial Executive Director Frances Hoover to recreate the playground’s famous slide.

Hoover and her team shared the original architectural drawings of the slide and even reviewed a script before the episode was filmed to ensure accuracy. The executive director said this veracity was important to Brunson, as someone who remembered having fun at Smith Memorial as a child.

“Quinta actually has memories of playing at Smith Playground,” Hoover toldThe Philly Voice. “So it’s my understanding that it was an idea that she put forth as a place that meant a lot to her growing up.”

IsAbbott Elementarya real school?

Joyce Abbott, who is the inspiration behind the hit ABC show “Abbott Elementary” and Quinta Brunson’s 6th-grade teacher, is seen arriving at Fox 29’s ‘Good Day’ at FOX 29 Studios on January 11, 2023.Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

However, the name is derived from a real person, Joyce Abbott, who was Brunson’s childhood school teacher.

Brunson’s real school was Andrew Hamilton School in Cobbs Creek, where she was a student of Abbott’s. In addition to classroom teaching, Abbott was the dean and climate manager of the school before she retired.

In May 2024, Abbott was honored with a painting of Brunson, her 102-year-old mother and herself, perCBS News. Today, it hangs in Andrew Hamilton’s office, which has officially been renamed the Joyce Abbott Office.

Are the characters inAbbott Elementarybased on real people?

Tyler James Williams, Quinta Brunson, Lisa Ann Walter and Sheryl Lee Ralph in ‘Abbott Elementary’.Gilles Mingasson/ABC via Getty

Yes, many of the characters onAbbottare based on real people in Brunson’s life — including herself.

“Jacob is based on my friend in New York, who is a public-school teacher. And Gregory is based on the few times I saw a Black male teacher in school. Such a unicorn,” Brunson continued.

She also toldThe New Yorkerthat she sees the inspiration behind her characters more broadly, saying, “Six different characters onAbbottare six different ways of showing people who I am.”

Where can I watch Abbott Elementary?

Lisa Ann Walter, Quinta Brunson, Chris Perfetti and Sheryl Lee Ralph in ‘Abbott Elementary’.Gilles Mingasson/Disney

Gilles Mingasson/Disney

Abbott Elementaryis available to stream onHulu,Maxand more.

source: people.com