The Ultimate Glee Location Guide: 5 Shocking Truths About Where William McKinley High Was REALLY Set

Since its premiere, the hit musical comedy-drama Glee captivated millions with its high-energy performances and heartfelt storylines, all seemingly centered in the heart of the American Midwest. The show’s entire premise revolved around the underdog New Directions show choir at William McKinley High School, creating a distinct, small-town atmosphere that was crucial to its narrative. However, as of the current date in December 2025, the true setting of the series is a fascinating mix of fictional geography, a creator's personal memory, and the practical demands of Hollywood filmmaking, revealing a shocking difference between the on-screen world and the real-life locations.

The core of the show is undeniably set in the fictional William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio. This location provides the backdrop for the daily struggles, triumphs, and extravagant musical numbers of characters like Rachel Berry, Finn Hudson, and the perpetually scheming coach Sue Sylvester. Despite the constant references to Lima, the actual filming took place over 2,000 miles away in sunny Southern California, with later seasons expanding to iconic East Coast landmarks, creating a geographic duality that few viewers ever fully realized.

The Fictional Heart: Lima, Ohio and William McKinley High School

The foundation of the Glee universe is firmly planted in Lima, Ohio. This mid-sized American city in Allen County, Ohio, was chosen by series creator Ryan Murphy for a very personal reason: he drove through it as a child and the name stuck with him.

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• The City: Lima, Ohio, is a real city, though the version depicted in Glee is a highly fictionalized, perhaps even exaggerated, version of a quintessential American small town.
• The School: William McKinley High School is entirely fictional; there is no school by that exact name in Lima, Ohio. The name is a nod to William McKinley, the 25th U.S. President, who was from Ohio.
• The Vibe: The show deliberately emphasized Lima's status as a place where dreams feel far away, making the New Directions' ambition to win Nationals—and later, the characters' moves to New York City—feel like an epic escape.
• Local Entities: Key fictional locations that reinforced the Lima setting include the local hangout, The Lima Bean coffee shop, and the various venues for the show choir competitions, such as Sectionals and Regionals.

The choice of Lima was a narrative device to create a stark contrast. The show choir, a vibrant, expressive, and often flamboyant group, was placed in a seemingly mundane, conservative, and sometimes hostile environment. This contrast fueled much of the show’s central conflict and emotional stakes.

The Hollywood Secret: Real-Life Filming Locations in Los Angeles

The biggest secret behind the setting of Glee is that the vast majority of the "Lima, Ohio" scenes were actually filmed in and around Los Angeles, California. Hollywood's ability to transform its local schools and studios into a midwestern high school is a testament to the magic of television production.

The production utilized several key locations to bring William McKinley High to life:

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Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo High School (Long Beach, CA)

For the early seasons of Glee, the primary filming location for the exterior shots and some interior scenes of William McKinley High was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo High School in Long Beach, California.

• The Exteriors: Shots of the main school building, the parking lot, and the front entrance that viewers associate with McKinley High were often filmed here.
• The Auditorium: Cabrillo High was frequently used for the iconic auditorium scenes where the New Directions practiced and performed. The large, classic auditorium provided the perfect stage for the show's elaborate musical numbers.

Helen Bernstein High School (Hollywood, CA)

As the series progressed, the production shifted some of the on-location shooting to Helen Bernstein High School in Hollywood. This school became the "new" William McKinley High for the later seasons.

• The Classrooms and Hallways: Bernstein High provided the backdrop for many of the classroom scenes, including Mr. Schuester's Spanish (and later, History) class, and the bustling, locker-lined hallways.
• The Exterior Look: The architectural style of Bernstein High also helped maintain the illusion of a large, older American high school, keeping the fictional setting consistent.

Paramount Studios (Hollywood, CA)

While the exteriors and some interiors were filmed at real schools, the most frequently used and recognizable sets were custom-built on soundstages at Paramount Studios in Hollywood.

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• The Glee Club Room: The famous choir room—the heart of the show where the New Directions rehearsed, fought, and made up—was a standing set at Paramount. This allowed for consistent lighting and easy access for the demanding production schedule.
• The Principal’s Office: The set for Principal Figgins' office, and later Principal Sylvester's office, was also built on a studio lot, showcasing the show's colorful, theatrical style.

The Big Apple Shift: Glee’s New York City Expansion

While Lima, Ohio, served as the home base for the first few seasons, the show's setting dramatically expanded and eventually shifted to New York City (NYC), particularly in the later seasons (Seasons 4-6). This transition was driven by the characters' pursuit of their big-city dreams.

The move to NYC was a major storyline for characters like Rachel Berry and Kurt Hummel, who attended the fictional New York Academy of the Dramatic Arts (NYADA). This allowed the production to film on location, utilizing some of the most famous landmarks in the world.

• Iconic Filming Spots: Real New York locations were used for major plot points, including the memorable dance sequence in Times Square and scenes filmed around Central Park.
• Famous Retailers: The show also filmed at high-profile locations like Tiffany & Co., where Kurt and Rachel shared a significant moment, adding a layer of glamour and authenticity to their big-city life.
• The Finale Shift: For the final season, the show's focus was almost entirely split between Lima and NYC, and for a short period, it was announced the series would be set only in New York City, solidifying the importance of the East Coast setting to the characters' adult lives.

In conclusion, the true setting of Glee is a brilliant illusion. It is fictionally Lima, Ohio, a small town that served as the perfect incubator for the New Directions' talent. However, in reality, the show was a logistical marvel, primarily filmed across multiple high schools and soundstages in Los Angeles, California, before taking its main characters—and the production crew—on a permanent journey to the vibrant, real-world streets of New York City.