The 5 Shocking Truths About School Spirits Season 3: Release Date, Cast, And Simon's Fate

The wait is finally over! As of today, December 10, 2025, fans of the supernatural teen drama School Spirits can officially mark their calendars. Paramount+ has not only confirmed the renewal for a third season but has also locked in an official premiere date, which is just around the corner. The series, which follows the mystery of Maddie Nears and the spectral residents of Split River High, is gearing up for a major return that promises to resolve the shocking Season 2 cliffhanger and dive deeper into the school's purgatorial secrets. The new season is set to address the biggest questions left hanging, particularly the fate of one key living character.

The success of the show, driven by its blend of mystery, drama, and compelling character development, secured its renewal back in March 2025, following another critically acclaimed run. Production moved quickly, with filming taking place in Vancouver, BC, starting in September 2025, ensuring the show would hit its early 2026 target. Get ready to return to Split River, because the new chapter is set to begin next month.

Peyton List's Biography and The Full Returning Cast of School Spirits Season 3

The core cast of the series, led by the talented Peyton List, is confirmed to return for the third season, ready to navigate the new supernatural challenges that await them. This section provides a brief profile of the lead actress and a list of the main ensemble who will be back on screen.

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Peyton List Profile (Maddie Nears)

• Full Name: Peyton Roi List
• Born: April 6, 1998
• Birthplace: Florida, United States
• Career Start: Began her career as a child model at the age of four.
• Breakthrough Roles: Gained widespread recognition for playing Emma Ross on the Disney Channel series Jessie and its spin-off Bunk'd.
• Recent Notable Role: Prior to School Spirits, she was best known for her role as Tory Nichols in the Netflix/YouTube Premium series Cobra Kai, a sequel to the Karate Kid films.
• Role in School Spirits: She plays Maddie Nears, the teenager who wakes up in the afterlife at Split River High, stuck with a group of ghosts and investigating the mystery of her own disappearance.

School Spirits Season 3 Main Cast

The following actors and actresses are confirmed to reprise their roles, with their characters facing new dynamics after the Season 2 finale's major twists:

• Peyton List as Maddie Nears
• Kristian Flores as Simon Elroy
• Milo Manheim as Wally Clark
• Spencer MacPherson as Xavier Baxter
• Nick Pugliese as Charley
• Kiara Pichardo as Nicole Herrera
• Sarah Yarkin as Rhonda
• Niko Guardado as Alex Powell
• Josh Zuckerman as Mr. Martin
• Maria Dizzia as Sandra Nears (Maddie's Mother)

The Official School Spirits Season 3 Release Date and Schedule

The most crucial piece of information for all dedicated fans is the premiere date, which is now officially set. The anticipation for this season is particularly high given the massive cliffhangers that concluded Season 2, leaving the core mystery—and several characters—in precarious positions.

When Does School Spirits Season 3 Premiere?

The third season of School Spirits will premiere on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, exclusively on Paramount+. This early 2026 return follows a similar release pattern to the previous seasons, maintaining its status as a key original series for the streaming platform.

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Episode Release Schedule

Paramount+ has confirmed a staggered release schedule for the new season. The premiere day on January 28, 2026, will feature a drop of three new episodes to immediately immerse viewers back into the mystery. Following the premiere, one new episode will be released weekly every Wednesday, concluding the season with a dramatic finale.

This release model is designed to generate buzz and allow fans to absorb the initial plot twists before settling into a weekly viewing routine. Given the complexity of the plot—which involves ghosts, a purgatory, and a living world conspiracy—the weekly format will allow for plenty of fan theories and discussions between episodes, building topical authority around the series.

The Shocking Season 2 Ending Explained and Season 3 Plot Theories

Season 2 delivered a jaw-dropping finale that completely upended the established rules of Split River High. Maddie Nears successfully returned to her body, but not without leaving a massive, life-altering question mark over her best friend, Simon Elroy. The new season must address several key entities and mysteries to move the overarching narrative forward.

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Maddie's Return and Simon's Cliffhanger

The finale saw Maddie successfully separate from Janet and return to her own body, a monumental shift that fans had been waiting for. However, the victory was short-lived. The final moments revealed that Simon Elroy, the only living person who could see and communicate with Maddie's ghost, had somehow become trapped in the "scar" or the purgatorial space, seemingly stuck at the school. This twist flips the central premise: Maddie is now alive, and Simon is the one trapped in the supernatural realm.

The Biggest Question: Is Simon dead, or is he simply in a limbo state, similar to how Maddie was never truly dead, but in a kind of "limbo"? Season 3 will undoubtedly focus on Maddie, now alive, trying to find a way to save Simon, potentially using her unique knowledge of the spirit world.

The Fate of Janet and Mr. Martin

The finale also brought the conflict between the ghosts to a head. Janet, the ghost who possessed Maddie's body, returned to the school and confronted Mr. Martin. Mr. Martin, the former drama teacher, has been a key figure in the mystery, having a hidden agenda related to the spirits' existence and the nature of the school's purgatory.

Season 3 Predictions: Dr. Martin and Janet's continued work on understanding how the school has so many dead students will be a major plotline. The new season could explore a redemption arc for Mr. Martin, or it could reveal an even darker truth about the experiment he has been running. The question of whether Janet is truly gone or if her spirit is still a threat looms large.

The Xavier and Hospital Ghost Connection

One of the most intriguing new developments involves Xavier Baxter, who, in a shocking turn, was able to see a ghost at the hospital where Maddie's body was being kept. The show's co-creator confirmed that Xavier seeing hospital ghosts will have major implications for Season 3.

Topical Authority Entities: This introduces the concept that the Split River High is not the only purgatory site. The hospital may be another location where the rules of the afterlife are different, but connected. This expands the topical scope of the series, moving beyond the high school and suggesting a larger, interconnected supernatural conspiracy. The new season will explore if Xavier's ability is permanent and how the two purgatory sites—school and hospital—are linked.

What School Spirits Season 3 Must Answer

With the premiere date set for January 28, 2026, the countdown is on for the new season to tackle the numerous cliffhangers and lingering questions. The following are the most critical mysteries that the writers must resolve to satisfy the audience and advance the plot:

1. How to Save Simon: Is Simon's predicament reversible? Maddie, as a living person who understands the spirit world, is the only hope. Can she cross back into the "scar" to retrieve him, or will she need the help of the other ghosts?
2. The Nature of the Scar: What exactly is the "scar" that trapped Simon? Is it a permanent part of the afterlife, a temporary tear, or a specific trap set by Mr. Martin or another entity?
3. The Hospital Connection: How does the hospital purgatory connect to Split River High? Do the rules for the ghosts there differ? This opens the door for new characters and new supernatural lore.
4. Mr. Martin's True Motives: Despite the confrontation, Mr. Martin's ultimate goal remains murky. Does he genuinely want to help the spirits move on, or is he using them to further a selfish, dangerous experiment?
5. The Ghosts' Fate: Will the ghosts—Wally, Charley, Rhonda, and the others—finally find a way to cross over? One popular fan theory suggests that by the end of the series, the school will be cleared of ghosts, allowing Maddie and Simon to graduate knowing they saved them.

The return of School Spirits is poised to be the most explosive season yet, blending the emotional stakes of Maddie's relationship with Simon with the high-stakes supernatural mystery of Split River High. Mark your calendars for January 28, 2026, because the secrets of the afterlife are about to be revealed.