50 free Abbott Elementary trivia questions with answers — entertainment quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
Abbott Elementary started as a pilot called Harrity Elementary, named after the West Philadelphia school Quinta Brunson attended, and became ABC's most celebrated comedy in years: 37 Emmy nominations, four wins, three Golden Globes and a Peabody. Brunson built it around her mother's 40-year teaching career, nearly wrote herself out of it, and ended up the first Black woman to win the comedy writing Emmy solo. These 50 questions cover the school and the people who made it: Janine, Gregory, Ava, Barbara, Melissa, Jacob and Mr. Johnson, the blackmailed superintendent, Tariq, Gritty and Jim Gardner, the It's Always Sunny crossover, the Vermont Elementary exteriors, the library-music soundtrack, the strike-shortened third season, the ratings story, plus Brunson's Instagram and BuzzFeed years, Sheryl Lee Ralph's Dreamgirls Tony nod and Tyler James Williams's Everybody Hates Chris past. Easy questions stick to the main cast; the hard tier asks about guest stars, episode counts and awards history. Every answer is cited to a page we checked, with a short explanation that adds one more fact. Play it solo or print it for a teachers' lounge quiz.
30 of 50 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01Who created Abbott Elementary?
Quinta Brunson
She also stars as Janine Teagues and was originally going to be a side character.
Q 02In which city is Abbott Elementary set?
Philadelphia
The school is in West Philadelphia, where Brunson grew up.
Q 03What grade does Janine Teagues teach?
Second
Melissa Schemmenti also teaches second grade.
Q 04What format is the show presented in?
Mockumentary
Director Randall Einhorn insisted on 'rules' to keep the documentary honest.
Q 05Who plays Gregory Eddie?
Tyler James Williams
He won a Golden Globe for the role and was once Chris on Everybody Hates Chris.
Q 06Who plays principal Ava Coleman?
Janelle James
Ava got the job by blackmailing the superintendent.
Q 07How did Ava Coleman get the principal's job?
Blackmailing the superintendent
Superintendent Denzel Collins had an affair she knew about.
Q 08Who plays the kindergarten teacher who mothers Janine?
Sheryl Lee Ralph
She won the 2022 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy.
Q 09What grade does Melissa Schemmenti teach?
Second
She shares the grade with Janine.
Q 10Who plays Melissa Schemmenti?
Lisa Ann Walter
Melissa's questionable Philly connections come in handy for the school.
Q 11Which subject does Jacob Hill teach?
History
Chris Perfetti plays the awkward, well-meaning teacher.
Q 12What is Mr. Johnson's job at the school?
Custodian
William Stanford Davis was promoted to series regular for season two.
Q 13What was Gregory Eddie's original position when he arrived at Abbott?
Substitute teacher
He had been rejected for the principal job Ava got.
Q 14Whom is Abbott Elementary named after?
Q 21Which show crossed over with Abbott Elementary in season four?
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Both shows are set in Philadelphia.
Q 22What halted production in January 2025?
Southern California wildfires
The show films in Los Angeles despite its Philadelphia setting.
Q 23Which Flyers mascot cameoed in the season two premiere?
Gritty
He was meant to appear in season one but scheduling got in the way.
One of Brunson's teachers
Joyce Abbott taught in the Philadelphia School District for over 25 years.
Q 15Which character is based on Brunson's mother?
Barbara Howard
Norma Jean Brunson taught kindergarten for over 40 years.
Q 16What was the show's working title when ABC ordered the pilot?
Harrity Elementary
Harrity was the real school Brunson attended, now a charter school.
Q 17On what date did the series premiere?
December 7, 2021
It aired before Black-ish, which was in its final season.
Q 18How many episodes were in season one?
13
Season two expanded to a full 22-episode order.
Q 19How many episodes did ABC order for season two?
22
It premiered on September 21, 2022.
Q 20Why was the third season shortened to 14 episodes?
The 2023 writers' strike
It premiered February 7, 2024 with a two-episode opener.
Q 24Which Channel 6 Action News anchor appears as himself in 'Light Bulb'?
Jim Gardner
The Channel 6 Action News anchor is beloved by the Abbott staff.
Q 25Which Hamilton star guest-starred as Draemond Winding in season two?
Leslie Odom Jr.
Lauren Weedman and Keyla Monterroso Mejia also joined as recurring guests.
Q 26What song serves as the main title theme?
Hold'em by Maker
The show uses no original score, only pre-existing and library music.
Q 27Which service was the show's next-day US streaming home as of 2025?
Hulu
As of 2025 it also landed on HBO Max after each season finished airing.
Q 28On which network did the show air in Canada as of 2025?
Global
As of 2025 episodes streamed next day on StackTV and the Global TV app.
Q 29How many Primetime Emmys had the show won by the end of 2024?
Four
Wins by then included Lead Actress for Brunson and Supporting Actress for Ralph.
Q 30How many Primetime Emmy nominations has the show received?
37
It has also won three Golden Globes.