'Great Teacher Onizuka' and 4 Other Best Anime Titles About School, Ranked by IMDb

How often do you think back on your school days? Do you remember the bells ringing for class, making friends, your first love, and searching for yourself amidst homework and school events?

If you want to reminisce about those days or simply immerse yourself in the atmosphere of your youth, there's no need to return to your desk. Just choose one of these projects, which suit every taste.

5. 'Daily Lives of High School Boys', 2012

IMDb Score: 7.7/10

The plot centers on a trio of high school students: Tadakuni, Yoshitake, and Hidenori. They spend their days as meaninglessly and cheerfully as possible.

They discuss all sorts of nonsense, come up with absurd scenarios, and analyze girls' behavior as if they were a separate species.

The project doesn't have a formal, coherent plot – it consists of short vignettes and sketches linked by a general mood, the school environment, and the constant feeling that teenagers have too much free time and too little common sense.

4. 'Hyouka', 2012

IMDb Score: 7.7/10

Hotaro Oreki lives by a simple principle: if he can avoid something, he will, and if he must do something, he will try to finish it as quickly as possible.

At his sister's request, he joins the classic literature club, which is about to be shut down. There, he meets Eru Chitanda, his complete opposite.

Her curiosity drives the plot as she draws the main character into a series of investigations – from everyday mysteries to a history stretching back decades.

3. 'Classroom of the Elite', 2017-...

IMDb Score: 7.7/10

At first glance, Tokyo Metropolitan High School seems like the perfect place for any child to study. However, behind its elite facade lies a ruthless system that values not only academic achievement, but also one's ability to survive among competitors.

Kiyotaka is assigned to Class D, the lowest tier for "losers." It soon becomes clear that he is not as simple as he seems – beneath his mask of indifference is a man of exceptional intelligence and composure.

Together with his classmate Suzune, he tries to understand the rules of this artificial world and rise to the top.

2. 'Assassination Classroom', 2013-2016

IMDb Score: 7.9/10

An unknown being destroys most of the moon and announces that Earth will suffer the same fate within a year. Instead of hiding or continuing the destruction, however, the being unexpectedly becomes a teacher at an ordinary Japanese school.

This is how Koro-sensei appears: a teacher who cannot be killed by conventional means. And what's more, he is genuinely interested in the success of his students.

Class 3-E, where the monster arrives, consists of students who are considered outsiders. They are tasked with destroying the alien and saving humanity within one school year.

1. 'Great Teacher Onizuka', 1999-2000

IMDb Score: 8.5/10

The anime follows Eikichi Onizuka, a former biker who decides to become a teacher. He is assigned to a class of troubled teenagers excluded from other groups, leading him to face typical problems such as bullying, conflicts, and the students' personal struggles.

Onizuka uses unconventional methods, such as jokes, pranks, and sometimes brute force, to build relationships with his students and help them cope with adolescence.

Although the title premiered in the early 2000s, it remains relevant thanks to its coverage of familiar issues and its well-developed protagonist: a tough teacher and a symbol of the caring adult.