Plain soundstage buildings behind palms at a sunny Burbank studio lot

Where Was Abbott Elementary Filmed?

The Philly-set sitcom shoots mostly in Los Angeles. Here is where to find every classroom, hallway, and field trip location.

Check availabilitySee every location

The Short Answer

Abbott Elementary is primarily filmed on soundstages at Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank, California, while exterior shots of the school use Vermont Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles. Some episodes, starting with the Season 2 finale, were shot on location in Philadelphia, including the Franklin Institute. Field trip scenes are often filmed at other LA spots standing in for Philadelphia destinations.

Abbott Elementary is set at a fictional public school in West Philadelphia, but almost every episode comes together in the Los Angeles area. Creator Quinta Brunson named the show after Joyce Abbott, her real childhood teacher at Andrew Hamilton School in Philadelphia, yet the classrooms, hallways, and offices audiences see are soundstage builds at Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank.

That said, fans can visit a surprising number of real locations, from the LA school that doubles as the exterior to Philadelphia landmarks used in special on-location episodes. Here is every known filming location, what was shot there, and how to see each one today.

Every Location At A Glance

LocationWhereWhat was filmedAccess
Warner Bros. StudioBurbankInterior school scenes including classrooms, hallways, and offices on soundstagesTicketed
Vermont Avenue Elementary SchoolLos AngelesExterior shots of the fictional Abbott Elementary schoolOutside only
Franklin InstitutePhiladelphiaField trip episode scenes including Giant Heart and Benjamin Franklin National MemorialTicketed
Descanso GardensLa Cañada FlintridgePhiladelphia Zoo field trip scenesTicketed
Griffith Park (Shane's Inspiration)Los AngelesSmith Memorial Playground field trip scenes including recreated wooden slideFree to see
Westfield Promenade MallWoodland HillsTemporary school relocation episodes in abandoned mallClosed
Citizens Bank ParkPhiladelphiaPhillies game episode scenesTicketed
Please Touch MuseumPhiladelphiaField trip to museum scenesTicketed

Filming Locations Map

8 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

Warner Bros. Studio, Burbank
Location 01

Warner Bros. Studio

California, Burbank Ticketed

Filmed here: Interior school scenes including classrooms, hallways, and offices on soundstages

The heart of the show. Interior school scenes, including classrooms, hallways, and offices, are shot on soundstages here, with Stage 16 among the notable spaces. The backlot also supplies the school exterior and other standing sets. The studio offers a guided tour that passes these areas, making it the single best stop for fans. Interiors are not open to the public outside the tour, so booking the Studio Tour is the way in. Access is ticketed.

Vermont Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles
Location 02

Vermont Avenue Elementary School

California, Los Angeles Outside only

Filmed here: Exterior shots of the fictional Abbott Elementary school

Exterior shots of the fictional Abbott Elementary use this real Los Angeles public school, built in 1896 and serving a predominantly non-white student body. It is an active school, so access is exterior only and there is no interior entry for visitors. Fans can view the building from the street and recognize the facade seen in establishing shots throughout the series. It sits in Los Angeles, roughly a short drive from downtown.

Franklin Institute, Philadelphia
Location 03

Franklin Institute

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Ticketed

Filmed here: Field trip episode scenes including Giant Heart and Benjamin Franklin National Memorial

The Season 2 finale was the first time the production filmed on location in Philadelphia, and the entire shoot at this science museum was completed in one day. Scenes include the Giant Heart and the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. Today it remains a public science museum open to anyone with admission, so fans can walk the same floors and see the Giant Heart for themselves. It is fully visitable and family friendly.

Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge
Location 04

Descanso Gardens

California, La Cañada Flintridge Ticketed

Filmed here: Philadelphia Zoo field trip scenes

The Philadelphia Zoo field trip in the Season 1 finale was filmed at these botanical gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, which stood in for the zoo using decals provided by the real Philadelphia Zoo. The gardens are open to the public with admission and remain a pleasant stop for fans, even without any trace of the production. Expectcamellias, oak groves, and open lawns rather than animals.

Griffith Park (Shane's Inspiration), Los Angeles
Location 05

Griffith Park (Shane's Inspiration)

California, Los Angeles Free to see

Filmed here: Smith Memorial Playground field trip scenes including recreated wooden slide

Season 3 field trip scenes set at the Smith Memorial Playground were filmed here, including a recreated wooden slide built for the episode. The area is a public park and the playground is accessible, so there is nothing to book and no ticket required. Fans can stop by while exploring Griffith Park's other attractions. It is one of the easiest locations on this list to visit for free.

Westfield Promenade Mall, Woodland Hills
Location 06

Westfield Promenade Mall

California, Woodland Hills Closed

Filmed here: Temporary school relocation episodes in abandoned mall

Season 5 episodes set during a temporary school relocation were filmed at this abandoned mall in Woodland Hills. The site was demolished after filming to make way for Rams Village, so it no longer exists and cannot be visited. Fans hoping to see the mall classrooms are out of luck, though the episodes themselves preserve the space on screen. Nothing remains at the former address today.

Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Location 07

Citizens Bank Park

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Ticketed

Filmed here: Phillies game episode scenes

Season 5 brought the cast to this MLB stadium for a Phillies game episode, part of the show's growing roster of genuine Philadelphia shoots. The ballpark operates as normal, open during games and on scheduled tours. Fans can catch a Phillies game or join a tour and sit in the stands where the episode's scenes unfold. It sits in South Philadelphia alongside the city's other sports venues.

Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia
Location 08

Please Touch Museum

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Ticketed

Filmed here: Field trip to museum scenes

The Season 4 finale's museum field trip was filmed at this children's museum in Fairmount Park. It is open to the public with admission and designed for kids, with hands-on exhibits throughout. Fans visiting Philadelphia can pair it easily with the Franklin Institute for a day of Abbott Elementary locations. Adults without children are welcome to visit as well.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The show is set in a fictional public school in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but is primarily filmed in the Los Angeles area of California. Occasional on-location shoots in Philadelphia, beginning with the Season 2 finale at the Franklin Institute, add authentic Philly settings for special episodes.

The Studio Side

Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank handles the bulk of production. Interior school scenes, including classrooms, hallways, and offices, are shot on soundstages there, with the school exterior and other backlot locations also on the lot. The studio runs a guided tour that includes Stage 16 and backlot stops relevant to the show, and it is the only way for the public to get close to where Abbott Elementary is actually filmed. Two tour listings below cover the same core experience.

Tours That Visit These Locations

No dedicated Abbott Elementary tour exists, but the Warner Bros. Studio Tour takes visitors through the backlot and stages where the show shoots, including Stage 16. Both listings below offer the same underlying tour with strong ratings, so the choice comes down to availability and price on your travel dates.

Warner Bros. Backlot Studio Tour

Los Angeles: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

A guided Warner Bros. Studio Tour through the Burbank lot, covering the backlot school exterior, Stage 16, and other filming locations. Rated 4.6 from 8,721 reviews.

4.6 out of 5 · 8,721 reviewsLos Angeles

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

Burbank Studio Tour With Stage 16

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

The same Warner Bros. Studio Tour experience booked through a different operator, with visits to Stage 16 and the backlot sets. Rated 4.6 from 5,668 reviews.

4.6 out of 5 · 5,668 reviewsLos Angeles

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Visit The School From Abbott Elementary?

Yes, partially. The exterior, Vermont Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles, can be viewed from the street, but it is an active public school with no interior access for visitors. The interiors are soundstage sets at Warner Bros. Studio, which you can get close to on the studio's guided tour.

Where Is The Interior Of Abbott Elementary Filmed?

Interior school scenes, including classrooms, hallways, and offices, are filmed on soundstages at Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank, California. Stage 16 is among the spaces used, and the studio's guided tour passes the backlot and stages.

Is Abbott Elementary Filmed In Philadelphia?

Only occasionally. The show is set in West Philadelphia but filmed mostly in the Los Angeles area. Starting with the Season 2 finale at the Franklin Institute, the production has shot special episodes on location in Philadelphia, including Citizens Bank Park and the Please Touch Museum.

What Is The Best Tour For Abbott Elementary Fans?

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is the best option. It includes the backlot school exterior, Stage 16, and other filming locations from the show. There is no dedicated Abbott Elementary tour, but the general studio tour covers the key stops.

Can You Visit The Mall From Season 5?

No. The temporary school relocation episodes in Season 5 were filmed at Westfield Promenade Mall in Woodland Hills, which was demolished after filming to make way for Rams Village. Nothing remains for visitors to see.

Was The Zoo Episode Filmed At The Real Philadelphia Zoo?

No. The Season 1 finale zoo field trip was filmed at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, California, which stood in for the Philadelphia Zoo using decals supplied by the real zoo. The gardens are open to the public with admission.

For most fans, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is the highlight, putting you on the actual lot where Abbott Elementary is filmed. Add the Vermont Avenue Elementary exterior for a free stop in LA, or time a Philadelphia trip around the Franklin Institute, Citizens Bank Park, and the Please Touch Museum for the show's authentic on-location spots.

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