Trivia quiz
Abbott Elementary Trivia
20 questions and answers: 6 easy, 8 medium, and 6 hard.
Report to the teachers' lounge for a pop quiz on Philadelphia's most underfunded and most lovable public school. These questions cover Janine's big ideas, Ava's questionable leadership, Melissa's mysterious connections, Barbara's high standards, and a few surprise guests. Start with the easy ones and work your way up to the honor roll.
Tap a choice to lock in your answer and see the explanation, or open any answer below to check it. Questions run from easy to hard, and every answer links to the Abbott Elementary character guides.
Abbott Elementary trivia questions and answers
Score: 0 / 0 answeredof 20 questions
- Question 1Easy
In which city is Abbott Elementary set?
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Answer: A. Philadelphia
Abbott is a fictional public school in West Philadelphia, which is also Quinta Brunson's hometown. Philly touches pop up all over the show, from a Gritty cameo to a crossover with the Paddy's Pub gang.
Character guide: Janine Teagues
- Question 2Easy
Who created Abbott Elementary and also stars as Janine Teagues?
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Answer: B. Quinta Brunson
Quinta Brunson created the series and plays the endlessly optimistic Janine. Sheryl Lee Ralph plays Barbara, Janelle James plays Ava, and Lisa Ann Walter plays Melissa.
Character guide: Janine Teagues
- Question 3Easy
When the series begins, which grade does Barbara Howard teach?
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Answer: C. Kindergarten
Barbara is the school's no-nonsense, deeply religious kindergarten teacher and a mother figure to Janine. Janine and Melissa both start out teaching second grade.
Character guides: Barbara Howard, Janine Teagues
- Question 4Easy
What is Ava Coleman's job at Abbott?
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Answer: D. Principal
Ava is Abbott's tone-deaf principal, who often seems more interested in social media than in running the school. She still comes through for her staff now and then.
Character guide: Ava Coleman
- Question 5Easy
Which subject does Jacob Hill teach?
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Answer: A. History
Jacob is the awkward, well-meaning sixth-grade history teacher who is usually first to back Janine's plans. Chris Perfetti plays him.
Character guide: Jacob Hill
- Question 6Easy
Who is Abbott's eccentric, overqualified, and surprisingly talented custodian?
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Answer: B. Mr. Johnson
Mr. Johnson, played by William Stanford Davis, keeps the building running and has an opinion on everything. He went from recurring in season 1 to the main cast in season 2.
- Question 7Medium
In the pilot, what does Ava spend the school's supply money on instead of classroom rugs?
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Answer: C. A new school sign
Ava blows the money on a flashy new sign, setting the tone for her leadership in the "Pilot." When Janine complains to the superintendent, the email lands right back with Ava.
Episode: Season 1, Episode 1, "Pilot"
Character guides: Ava Coleman, Janine Teagues
- Question 8Medium
In the pilot, how do the teachers finally get rugs for their classrooms?
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Answer: D. A friend of Melissa's steals them
After Ava wastes the budget, Melissa calls in a favor from a friend who steals rugs for the teachers. It is the first taste of Melissa's famous Philly connections.
Episode: Season 1, Episode 1, "Pilot"
Character guide: Melissa Schemmenti
- Question 9Medium
How did Ava land the principal job in the first place?
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Answer: A. She blackmailed the superintendent
Ava caught the superintendent cheating on his wife and used it to get the job, a detail revealed in the pilot. She has never been shy about how she got there.
Character guide: Ava Coleman
- Question 10Medium
Which job had Gregory Eddie applied for before he ended up as a substitute at Abbott?
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Answer: B. The principal job
Gregory was turned down for principal, the job Ava got, and was hired as a substitute after a teacher was fired for kicking a student. He later becomes a full-time first-grade teacher.
Character guides: Gregory Eddie, Ava Coleman
- Question 11Medium
What career is Janine's boyfriend Tariq chasing in season 1?
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Answer: C. Rapper
Tariq is an aspiring rapper whose gigs always seem to come before Janine. In the season 1 finale, "Zoo Balloon," he gets a chance to record in New York, and Janine decides to take a break instead of going with him.
Character guide: Janine Teagues
- Question 12Medium
Which Philadelphia sports mascot makes a cameo in the season 2 premiere?
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Answer: D. Gritty
Gritty, the Flyers' famously chaotic mascot, drops by in "Development Day." The producers said the cameo had been planned since season 1 but was delayed by scheduling.
Episode: Season 2, Episode 1, "Development Day"
- Question 13Medium
Which fellow Philadelphia sitcom's gang shows up at Abbott as volunteers in season 4?
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Answer: A. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
In "Volunteers," the Paddy's Pub gang arrives at Abbott, and Barbara takes it upon herself to teach Charlie to read. The crossover continued on the other show's side too.
Episode: Season 4, Episode 9, "Volunteers"
Character guides: Barbara Howard, Ava Coleman
- Question 14Medium
At the start of season 4, what are Janine and Gregory trying to keep from everyone at school?
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Answer: B. They have been dating
In "Back to School," Ava even calls in Human Resources once it is clear the pair dated over the summer. As it turns out, the whole school, students included, already knew.
Episode: Season 4, Episode 1, "Back to School"
Character guides: Janine Teagues, Gregory Eddie, Ava Coleman
- Question 15Hard
The show's title honors a woman named Joyce Abbott. Who was she to Quinta Brunson?
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Answer: C. One of her favorite elementary school teachers
Brunson named the series after Joyce Abbott, one of her favorite teachers growing up. Her own mother's long career as a teacher also inspired the show.
- Question 16Hard
What is the name of Barbara's husband, who sometimes stops by the school for lunch?
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Answer: D. Gerald
Barbara is married to Gerald, played by Richard Brooks. Gary is Melissa's ex-boyfriend, and Martin is Gregory's father.
Character guide: Barbara Howard
- Question 17Hard
Which song did Sheryl Lee Ralph sing a cappella while accepting her 2022 Emmy for playing Barbara?
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Answer: A. "Endangered Species"
Ralph won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and opened her speech by singing Dianne Reeves's "Endangered Species." The room gave her a standing ovation.
Character guide: Barbara Howard
- Question 18Hard
In "Festival," which singer does Ava falsely claim will perform at the school event?
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Answer: B. Jazmine Sullivan
Ava lures parents with the promise of Jazmine Sullivan, who never shows. A season later, in "2 Ava 2 Fest," she claims to have booked Questlove, and the staff are understandably skeptical.
Episode: Season 2, Episode 19, "Festival"
Character guides: Ava Coleman, Gregory Eddie
- Question 19Hard
What is the name of Melissa's sister, with whom she has a strained relationship?
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Answer: C. Kristen
Kristen Marie Schemmenti, played by Lauren Weedman, first appears in "Wrong Delivery." Teresa is Melissa's mother, and Taylor is Barbara's daughter.
Episode: Season 2, Episode 2, "Wrong Delivery"
Character guide: Melissa Schemmenti
- Question 20Hard
Which Abbott teacher is based on Quinta Brunson's own mother, who was also a teacher?
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Answer: D. Barbara Howard
Barbara, the strict, old-school kindergarten teacher, is modeled on Brunson's mother, who taught for decades. Fittingly, she is the colleague Janine looks up to most.
Character guides: Barbara Howard, Janine Teagues
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