A Guide to “Abbott Elementary” Filming Locations

Quinta Brunson named the fictional elementary school, Abbott Elementary, after Joyce Abbott, a childhood schoolteacher who inspired the series. Brunson was a student of Abbott’s while attending Andrew Hamilton School in Cobbs Creek, and while “Abbott Elementary” wasn’t filmed there, the show has been heavily influenced by the school. Abbott not only served as teacher, but was previously the dean and climate manager of the school before retiring. Earlier this year in May, Joyce Abbott was honored with a painting of Quinta Brunson, Abbott’s 102-year-old mother, and herself that now hangs in the renamed Joyce Abbott Office.

It may not have been filmed for the show, but you should still visit the Philadelphia Zoo, according to Brunson. “Very beautiful zoo, if you’re ever in Philadelphia,” she told Entertainment Weekly in 2022. Opened in 1874, it was America’s first true zoo and covers 42 acres on the banks of the Schuylkill River in Philly’s Centennial District. Quinta Brunson has such fond memories of the zoo that she chose to use it as the setting of the first field trip in the season one finale of “Abbott Elementary.” Aside from being a great place to catch a glimpse of flamingos, leopards, and kangaroos, the Philadelphia Zoo is home to over 1,900 animals, many of which are one-of-a-kind and endangered. The zoo also assists with breeding animals that have difficulty breeding in captivity and works to protect animal habitats around the world.

The first time “Abbott Elementary” actually filmed in Philadelphia was for the season two finale, “Franklin Institute.” The episode follows the students and teachers as they embark on a field trip to the Franklin Institute, a famed science museum in the City of Brotherly Love named after Benjamin Franklin. The cast and crew filmed the episode in just one day in February 2023 on site, so keep an eye out for notable sculptures like the Giant Heart and the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. There’s plenty to explore here from the Fels Planetarium to exhibits like “Sir Isaac’s Loft” that explore Newton’s laws.

Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse is another must-visit Philadelphia location that was recreated for the series. Located in Fairmount Park, the beloved playground is celebrating its 125th birthday this year – though it underwent a major renovation three years ago. There’s six-and-a-half acres to explore here that include a playhouse, a three-floor playground, an indoor play area and a Swing City which is exactly what it sounds like. That said, the big draw here is the Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide, a 60-foot long, 12-foot wide behemoth that resembles a sloped bowling lane. The playground sees over 1,000 children a day, making it the ideal destination when you’re looking to wear the kiddos out.

Like so many sitcoms before it, the majority of “Abbott Elementary” is shot on soundstages at the Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank, just outside of Los Angeles. Affectionately referred to as the “Media Capital of the World,” the city is home to over 1,000 entertainment companies that include Dreamworks Animation, Netflix and Walt Disney Studios. At Warner Bros. Studio, where countless shows including “The West Wing” and “Friends” were filmed, the art department for “Abbott Elementary” designed and created the interior of the fictional elementary school, complete with various classrooms, an administration office and massive school hallways. While you won’t get to see where Janine Teagues optimistically teaches, we recommend visiting Warner Bros. Studio for their fascinating guided tour to learn more about the history of the studio and lore behind some of your favorite shows.

Descanso Gardens reads more like the Garden of Eden and less like a historic zoo, yet here we are. Located in La Cañada Flintridge roughly 15 minutes north of Los Angeles by car, the palatial botanical gardens were the set of the season one finale “Zoo Balloon,” wherein its 15 acres of ponds, lawns and gentle streams were dressed up like the Philadelphia Zoo. Creator Quinta Brunson told Entertainment Weekly that they looked around at a number of different zoos, but that she found that Descanso Gardens shared a similar vibe to Philadelphia’s historic zoo. Prepare to be wowed by fruit trees, over five types of gardens, wooded forests and groves, and when you’re ready to rest your feet, hop aboard the diesel train that follows the enchanted railroad.

In “Smith Playground” (season three, episode 13), the students and teachers take a field trip to Philadelphia’s beloved Smith Playground where hijinks ensue. We won’t get into the brass tacks of what happens in case you’re behind on episodes, but you can stop by Griffith Park next time you’re in Los Angeles to see where it was filmed. Shot primarily at Shane’s Inspiration play area in Griffith Park, the art department recreated the Smith Playground’s 60-foot wooden slide using actual blueprints of the slide from when it was rebuilt back in 2005. While the slide is no longer there, you’ll still be able to get your “Abbot” fillbefore heading out onto one of the park’s many trails for a jaunt.

Exterior shots of Abbott Elementary School were filmed in front of Vermont Avenue Elementary in South Los Angeles. The West Adams school was built in 1896 and is located close to the University of Southern California and Exposition Park. Similar to the fictional Philadelphia school depicted in the show, Vermont Avenue Elementary School educates a predominantly non-white group of students. Look for the iconic red brick façade that can be seen throughout the show.