There’s just something timeless about magic school stories. Whether you’re still dreaming of an owl delivering your acceptance letter or you’ve moved on to more modern, inclusive takes, the idea of studying spells, battling monsters, and making friends in enchanted halls never gets old. Harry Potter might have opened doors for most, but numerous other shows have created their worlds of magic—some darker, some more funny, and some much more diverse. So go ahead, get your cloak, buff your wand, and let’s explore ten magical TV schools that reinforce the genre’s charm. Is still magic strong.
10. The Worst Witch
Years before Hogwarts School was on everyone’s lips, broomstick manners and potion classes were on the syllabus at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches. This series, based on Jill Murphy’s classic books, is about Mildred Hubble, a well-meaning but klutzy girl from a non-magical background. The appeal is in the misadventures, the friendships, and the fact that being less than perfect doesn’t have to stop you from doing marvelous things. The 2017 revival injected new life into the series, demonstrating that the “magical misfit” model never fades away.
9. The Order
En. Imagine combining freshman orientation with secret ceremonies and the occasional werewolf attack—that’s The Order. Based at Belgrave University, it follows Jack Morton, who finds himself drawn into a world of a secret society in which magic exists, there are monsters in the undergrowth, and loyalty is never assured. It combines a dark academia atmosphere with supernatural elements, and it’s ideal for anyone who likes their spellcasting served with a dash of danger and intrigue.
8. Motherland: Fort Salem
Not every school of magic is secreted in forests or castles—some teach witches to battle on the front lines. This alternate history has witches making a pact centuries ago to be soldiers, and Motherland: Fort Salem tracks three recruits—Raelle, Abigail, and Tally—as they learn combat magic. This is magic school at its most intense: combat training, political deal-making, and matters of life and death. It’s empowering, suspenseful, and surprisingly different from the typical magical classroom configuration.
7. American Horror Story: Coven
Miss Robichaux’s Academy is no ordinary boarding school—rarely has there been a hothouse for young witches as potentially great or as perhaps doomed. Coven brings big drama, showy fashion, and cutthroat competition over the crown of Supreme Witch. Amidst power struggles, sinister spells, and wicked one-liners, it’s both glamorous and perilous, showing magic school can be as ruthless as any royal court.
6. Wednesday
Nevermore Academy is where supernatural misfits—werewolves, sirens, gorgons—are taught to control their powers. Into this brew arrives Wednesday Addams, with psychic dreams and a talent for solving murders. The series’ blend of gothic humor, puzzle-solving, and offbeat school life sets it apart. And Wednesday’s acidic wit and refusal to get into line add a wickedly macabre spin to the magic school genre.
5. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
At the School of Unseen Arts, each class is a challenge. Sabrina Spellman’s half-mortal, half-witch existence compels her to juggle typical teen angst with sinister magical challenges. This take replaces the original’s sitcom humor with darkened hallways, contorted rituals, and a diverse cast that encompasses a broad range of identities. It’s a magic school with fangs—sometimes literally.
4. Fate: The Winx Saga
Based on the cartoon darling, this live-action version tracks Bloom and her fairy friends at Alfea College learning to master their elemental abilities. It’s half fantasy adventure, half teen soap, with lots of romance, rivalries, and impending danger. Over the magical fight scenes is a narrative about self-discovery and belonging that makes it accessible even in a world filled with wings and magic.
3. Legacies
Based on The Vampire Diaries universe, Legacies follows the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted—a haven for supernatural teenagers. Its star student is Hope Mikaelson, a unique hybrid of witch, vampire, and werewolf. The series goes all in on friendships, heartbreak, and magical mayhem, with just enough action to keep even occasional viewers engaged. It’s a reminder that it’s hard to grow up when you can make things burn with your brain.
2. The Magicians
Brakebills University has a more mature, gritty take on magic school. Quentin Coldwater and his friends discover that magic isn’t a children’s fairy tale—it’s dirty, risky, and sometimes traumatic. The show mixes humor, tragedy, and insane plot turns, with characters who are honest in their imperfections and victories. It’s like fantasy for people who have grown up beyond the notion that magic fixes everything.
1. The Owl House
In this animated treasure, Luz Noceda walks into the Boiling Isles and learns magic with the guidance of the quirky Eda the Owl Lady in between attending Hexside School of Magic and Demonics. It’s vibrant, hilarious, and deeply emotional, embracing queerness, neurodiversity, and the strength of found family. With lushly conceived lore and characters you just can’t help but adore, it illustrates precisely how varied and diverse the magic school genre can become.
Magic school stories aren’t going anywhere—they’re just evolving. From mysterious gothic halls to sprawling fantasy worlds, these shows prove the formula still works, especially when it dares to be fresh, diverse, and bold. Whether you’re in it for the spells, the drama, or the friendships, there’s a magic classroom out there with your name on the roster.