“Abbott Elementary” is set in Philadelphia, but it’s mostly filmed in California, not in a real Philly school.

Quick Scoop: Main Filming Spots

  • Interiors (classrooms, hallways, offices):
    Filmed on soundstages at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California.
  • School exterior you see on the show:
    Shot at Vermont Avenue Elementary School, a real public school in Los Angeles.
  • On-location Philadelphia shots:
    Occasionally, production films select scenes and special episodes on location in Philadelphia to add authenticity to the “Philly” feel.

So even though the story takes place at a fictional public school in Philly, the day‑to‑day filming happens mainly on L.A. sets and at a real L.A. elementary school.