The 3 Secret Locations: Where Does ‘Abbott Elementary’ Film? (It’s Not Where You Think)

Despite being one of the most beloved and authentic comedies set in Philadelphia, the truth about where Abbott Elementary films is a fascinating Hollywood secret. As of December 2025, the vast majority of the show’s production is nowhere near the City of Brotherly Love, operating instead out of a massive California studio. This multi-Emmy-winning mockumentary, created by Philadelphia native Quinta Brunson, masterfully blends a real-life public school exterior with an intricately designed soundstage interior, only occasionally returning to its spiritual home for special on-location shoots.

The show’s commitment to realism makes the question of its filming location one of the most common for fans, especially given the show's focus on the underfunded Willard R. Abbott Elementary School. The production team uses a three-pronged approach to filming, combining two distinct locations in Los Angeles with highly selective, high-profile shoots in Philadelphia itself, ensuring the show maintains its authentic Philly flavor while benefiting from Hollywood’s production infrastructure.

The Dual-City Filming Strategy: Los Angeles and Philadelphia

The production of Abbott Elementary employs a sophisticated strategy that allows the show to capture the look and feel of a Philadelphia public school while maintaining the efficiency of a major studio production. This strategy relies on two main filming hubs: a real, historic school in Los Angeles for the exterior and a meticulously crafted soundstage for all the interior scenes.

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Location 1: The Exterior—Vermont Avenue Elementary School (Los Angeles, CA)

The instantly recognizable exterior of Willard R. Abbott Elementary School is, in fact, a real, operating school located in South Los Angeles, specifically in the West Adams neighborhood. The school used for all the establishing shots is the historic Vermont Avenue Elementary School.

• The Building: The school’s distinctive architecture, which gives the fictional Abbott Elementary its aged, institutional look, is that of the Vermont Avenue Elementary School.
• Function: This location is primarily used for exterior shots, such as the view of the main school entrance, the playground, and the parking lot where characters like Janine Teagues, Gregory Eddie, and Melissa Schemmenti arrive and depart.
• Historical Context: The building itself is a historic structure, having been built in 1896, which contributes to the show’s authentic portrayal of an older, underfunded urban school building.

This use of a real school exterior is crucial for the mockumentary’s realism, grounding the fictional setting in a tangible, believable environment before viewers are taken inside.

Location 2: The Interiors—Warner Bros. Studios (Burbank, CA)

Once the cameras move inside the school, the production shifts entirely to a soundstage at the Warner Bros. Studios lot in Burbank, California.

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The interior sets—including the classrooms, the staff lounge, Principal Ava Coleman’s office, and the notoriously dingy hallways—are all custom-built.

The production designer, Michael Whetstone, and his team meticulously designed the sets to reflect the reality of a Philadelphia public school, even incorporating details like old, non-functional water fountains and worn-out lockers.

This approach offers the production team maximum control over lighting, sound, and space, which is essential for the show’s fast-paced, single-camera style. The set is so convincing that visitors on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour can often see the famous hallway and classrooms.

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The Special On-Location Shoots in Philadelphia

While Los Angeles serves as the primary production base, the show's creator, Quinta Brunson, is committed to paying homage to her hometown. The show is inspired by her own sixth-grade teacher, Joyce Abbott, at Andrew Hamilton School in West Philadelphia.

To keep the show’s connection to its roots strong, the cast and crew have made several high-profile trips to Philadelphia for on-location filming, usually for season finales or major episodes that require a significant change of scenery outside the school walls. These trips are the only times the show is truly filmed in Pennsylvania.

Recent and Notable Philadelphia Filming Locations

The on-location shoots in Philadelphia are a major event for the cast and the city, often involving complex logistics to film at famous landmarks:

• Citizens Bank Park (Season 5): In one of the most recent and exciting developments, the cast and crew were spotted filming for the upcoming Season 5 at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. This shoot was particularly notable as it took place during an actual Phillies baseball game, requiring a partnership with MLB Studios.
• The Please Touch Museum (Season 4 Finale): The Season 4 finale saw the students and teachers of Abbott Elementary take a field trip to the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park. The production team had to pull off a secret shoot to capture the scenes in the children’s museum.
• The Franklin Institute (Season 2 Finale): The first major on-location trip to Philadelphia was for the Season 2 finale, where the school takes a field trip to The Franklin Institute, a prominent science museum.

These Philadelphia-based episodes are not just a treat for fans but a deliberate move by the production to maintain the show's authentic connection to the city that inspired it. The show’s fictional setting, Willard R. Abbott Elementary School (often simply referred to as Abbott), is named after Quinta Brunson's actual former teacher, Joyce Abbott, cementing the show's deep Philadelphia roots.

Topical Authority and Key Production Entities

Understanding where Abbott Elementary is filmed requires acknowledging the key people and companies that bring the show to life. The show’s success is a testament to the collaborative effort between its creative team and the major studios.

Key Entities and Personnel

The production involves several major players across the television industry:

• Creator and Star: Quinta Brunson (Janine Teagues)
• The Real-Life Inspiration: Joyce Abbott, Brunson's 6th-grade teacher.
• Production Companies: Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions, Fifth Chance, Warner Bros. Television, and 20th Television.
• Production Designer: Michael Whetstone, who oversees the meticulous set construction at the Warner Bros. lot.
• Primary Studio: Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, CA.
• Exterior Location: Vermont Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, CA.

The seamless transition between the LA-based soundstage and the occasional Philadelphia location shoot is a hallmark of the show’s high production value. The mockumentary style, reminiscent of shows like The Office, is enhanced by the realistic set design, which includes the cramped, lived-in feel of a genuine public school. The sets are designed to feel claustrophobic and familiar, contrasting the teachers' chaotic lives with the sterile environment of a typical sitcom. This blend of on-set and on-location filming ensures that Abbott Elementary remains a visually and narratively compelling series that honors its Philadelphia setting, even if the majority of the filming takes place thousands of miles away in the heart of Hollywood.