20 Shows Like Degrassi: The Next Generation Fans Should Watch

Premiering in the fall of 2001, "Degrassi: The Next Generation" — a spin-off of beloved Canadian series "Degrassi Junior High" and "Degrassi High" — lasted for a remarkable 14 seasons before its cancellation. And according to folks like Teen Vogue's Gabe Bergado, the show and franchise have become a "huge cultural phenomenon." So much so that Netflix revived it for its "Degrassi: Next Class" iteration. That stint is now over, but don't fret because HBO Max has plans to bring another installment into the fold, which we all anxiously await.

Created by former schoolteacher Linda Schuyler and "Degrassi Junior High" head writer Yan Moore, "Degrassi: The Next Generation" stands apart from the standard teen drama fare of its time because it offers grounded, socially-minded coming-of-age stories ... with age-appropriate actors, no less! While other shows may lean into glossy wish fulfillment, in which teens are played by model-ready twenty-and-thirty-somethings waltzing around like fully formed adults obsessed with their relationships, "Degrassi: The Next Generation" is more concerned with being true to its viewers. Even at its cheesiest, this beloved show is full of genuine heart, and the fact that the creators value authenticity and real representation regarding the trials and tribulations of adolescence is very clear in the deftly handled, issue-based narratives.

We still have a while to wait for HBO's version of "Degrassi," so we've compiled a list of 20 shows similar to "Degrassi: The Next Generation" that are worth checking out in the meantime.

"Grange Hill" is like the British counterpart to the "Degrassi" franchise. While it originally aired from 1978 to 2008, we'd say the '80s and '90s are its heyday. Set in a fictional borough of North London, the long-running program follows the students of a comprehensive school and — for most of its lifetime, at least — offers similarly grounded and socially relevant narratives like "Degrassi."

Created by Sir Phil Redmond (who also created the popular primetime soap "Hollyoaks"), "Grange Hill" also features an ensemble cast made of a revolving door of characters, who are played by age-appropriate actors. According to The Guardian's Tara Conlan, the show "broke new ground over the years, with the kind of hard-hitting storylines not usually seen in children's dramas," such as violent bullying and one character's life-destroying heroin addiction.

Despite its popularity and groundbreaking status, the network decided to cripple the series in the early aughts by instating a policy requiring that all content airing in the afternoons appeal to children under the age of 12. This effectively threw the show's teenage fanbase to the wind in favor of fluffier, more light-hearted tween shenanigans. It prompted Redmond to call for its cancellation, lamenting, "I don't like keeping things going when the point has been lost" (via The Guardian). Nowadays, you can stream this once controversial coming-of-age classic on BritBox, and rumor has it that a new iteration of "Grange Hill" is coming our way — this time in movie form (via BBC).

In the same way that Emma Nelson (Miriam McDonald) first brings us into the world of Degrassi Community School, aspiring ballerina Tara Webster (Xenia Goodwin) brings us into the world of Sydney's National Academy of Dance in "Dance Academy." As Tara and her classmates work on perfecting their techniques, so they can launch professional careers upon graduation, they also experience the tumultuous ups and downs that come with growing up and trying to find your place in the world.

According to The Guardian's Cassie Tongue, this Australian teen drama's characters are "believable teenagers. Charming, awkward, and headstrong, they make short-sighted decisions while trying to be better dancers and people." Sound familiar? The teens in this show may all be super talented dancers with promising futures, but they're also still dealing with the relatable pains of adolescence. Like the "Degrassi: The Next Generation" students, they're no strangers to issues like eating disorders, sexual orientation, complicated families, and even abusive teacher-pupil relationships. Added bonus: If you do check this gem out, you'll get to see Keiynan Lonsdale (a.k.a. "The Flash's" Wally West/Kid Flash) as the skilled-but-cocky Ollie Lloyd!

Responding to another Redditor asking for "shows that give Degrassi vibes," Reddit user u/for-never-after pointed the OP towards "Edgemont," another Canadian teen drama of the early aughts. Created by Ian Weir, the series follows the students of McKinley, a school in a Vancouver suburb, as they navigate friendships, relationships, families, their images, and other topics socially relevant to high schoolers. The show gets even soapier than "Degrassi: The Next Generation," partly due to its heavy focus on the characters' various romances (and jealousies). But it still offers many grounded narratives that will resonate with viewers, from its depiction of the aftermath of divorce to a character coming to terms with her sexuality, while growing up in a religious, conservative household.

"Edgemont" didn't last as long as "Degrassi: The Next Generation," but with its five-year run, it does enjoy more screen time than American teen staples like "My So-Called Life" and "Freaks and Geeks." The show actually matures with its characters, which allows for a surprising amount of depth and nuance as the series progresses. Plus, you'll get to see a pre-"Smallville" Kristen Kreuk as the new girl, Laurel, who joins the school from Toronto.

While admittedly more family-focused than "Degrassi: The Next Generation," Freeform's drama, "The Fosters," still focuses on a group of teens, who attend a charter school in the suburbs of San Diego, California. These kids just also happen to be part of a blended family.

Created by Peter Paige and Bradley Bredeweg, and executive produced by Jennifer Lopez, the series follows married, biracial, same-sex couple Stef and Lena, as they help their family of biological, adopted, and foster kids navigate the realities of the world. It's just as socially minded as "Degrassi: The Next Generation," as "The Fosters" depicts issue-based narratives we don't often see aptly portrayed in popular media. For example, some characters fall through the cracks of the U.S.'s dangerously broken foster care system and pay for it with their lives; Jude questions his sexual orientation and identity; step-siblings Callie and Brandon begin a taboo romantic relationship; and Jesus learns to live with his brain trauma.

With a diverse cast, authentic trans representation, and hard-hitting storylines, "The Fosters" is definitely worth a watch for any "Degrassi" fan. And if you enjoy it enough, you can move onto its spin-off, "Good Trouble," which centers on adoptive siblings Callie and Mariana, as they start their lives as young professionals in L.A.

We may all know Neve Campbell best from the "Scream" franchise, but before she was ever Final Girl Sidney Prescott, she was middle child Julia Salinger in Fox's poignant 1994 drama, "Party of Five." The series follows the five newly orphaned Salinger siblings, as they grapple with the tragic loss of their parents, who were killed by a drunk driver. They do their best to stay together as a family and learn how to raise themselves in a world that just doesn't seem to care. Money is a real, visceral concern — and so is social services. According to Sandy Grushow, the former chairman of the Fox Television Entertainment Group, "Party of Five" was originally conceived to fill the void "Beverly Hills, 90210" would leave behind if "90210" ended after its fourth season. He "wanted a show that would possess many of the same values that '90210' had in the beginning. A show about teenagers and for teenagers" (via Los Angeles Times).

The A.V. Club's Emily St. James claims that this show "is the great forgotten drama of the '90s," but we certainly haven't forgotten this earnest, award-winning, six-year saga that propelled the careers of Neve Campbell, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Matthew Fox. Like "Degrassi: The Next Generation," the series isn't afraid to explore mature themes in thoughtful ways for its target audience, with issue-led storylines that include teen pregnancy, abortion, alcoholism, and domestic violence.

Hulu's teen drama "East Los High" boasts a predominantly Latino cast and crew, and like "Degrassi: The Next Generation," it aims to be true to the lives of its adolescent viewers by showcasing storylines that are representative of real experiences. NPR's Maanvi Singh explains how underneath all the "frothy" soapiness of "East Los High" is a "science experiment, conducted by a team of social scientists and health workers in cahoots with screenwriters and studio executives." Essentially, all these experts in their respective fields banded together to create an engaging, educational program that is capable of having a real, positive impact on young lives. And the best part is that the series manages to do this without moralizing. How many coming-of-age teen dramas can we actually say that about?

Set in an inner city neighborhood in East Los Angeles, the show centers on the various students of East Los High and explores many issues, including sex, drug use, teen pregnancy, teen motherhood, domestic violence, and HIV. All in all, if you enjoy "Degrassi: The Next Generation," we suspect that you'll likely enjoy this hit show too — quite a bit, in fact!

"Higher Ground" focuses on a group of troubled teens attending Mount Horizon High School, which is tailored to helping at-risk youth work through their issues, while living in an isolated mountain community in the American Northwest. Think of that community as one-part boarding school, one-part rehabilitation center, and one-part wilderness survival training camp.

Every character in this ensemble gets their time to shine, as we delve into each teen's individual struggles. But protagonist Scott — played by a baby-faced Hayden Christensen (before he was ever Anakin Skywalker) — kicks off the narrative. After turning to drugs to cope with his stepmother's sexual abuse, Scott finds himself carted against his will to Mount Horizon, where he's encouraged to tackle his problems. It's clear he doesn't want to be here, but it's also clear he doesn't want to go home (and for good reason).

Similarly to how the majority of "Degrassi: The Next Generation" episodes are named after song titles, a quote from a famous writer or notable figure accompanies each episode of "Higher Ground." For example, the pilot uses Oscar Wilde's line, "We are all in the gutter, but some of us look at the stars." Also similar to "Degrassi" are the socially relevant storylines. Considering the basic premise is "school tries to support vulnerable teens," we'd say this one goes even deeper than "Degrassi" in its explorations of drug use, self-harm, disordered eating, neglect, mental illness, and physical, sexual, and verbal abuse.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

According to The New York Times' Caryn James, Darren Star's '90s teen staple "effectively touches the problems of teenagers maneuvering from the carefree days of childhood to the sex-and-drug culture of their peers," and as a result, just like "Degrassi: The Next Generation," it navigates many socially topical issues, like sex, substance abuse, homophobia, abuse, and antisemitism ... just to name a few. The main difference here is that these kids are in the rich, predominantly white bubble of the 90210 zip code. In this show, we learn that sometimes rich kids have real problems too. At least, this is what teen twins Brenda (Shannen Doherty) and Brandon (Jason Priestley) Walsh discover when they move from Minnesota to sunny California.

If we're being honest, the series treads a fine line, ultimately offering its viewers a blend of "Degrassi"-like narratives and "Gossip Girl"-esque glossiness. Similar to early aught shows like "The O.C." and "One Tree Hill," it can lean pretty heavily into the relationship dramas between the characters — especially the heated love triangle between Brenda, Kelly (Jennie Garth), and Dylan (played by the late Luke Perry). But "Beverly Hills: 90210" still manages to find a good amount of time for its more realistic depictions of teenage life, and for that, we'd say that it's worth a watch for any "Degrassi" fan.

"Degrassi Junior High" and "Degrassi High" are essentially the same show, as many of the characters we follow in "Degrassi Junior High" continue on to "Degrassi High." What really matters is that they're both must-watches for any true "Degrassi" fan. If you've never experienced "Degrassi: The Next Generation's" late '80s and early '90s predecessors, then what the heck are you waiting for?! You'll even get to see Joey Jeremiah (played by Pat Mastroianni and known to the "The Next Generation" crowd as Craig Manning's stepdad) and Snake (the lovable Mr. Archie Simpson, portrayed by Stefan Brogren) with full heads of hair — a joy in and of itself!

Be prepared: The cheese factor is even higher here, but these shows have the same heart and the same authenticity of their successors, and the same determination to address topical (and sometimes taboo) social issues like anorexia, AIDS, abuse, teen pregnancy, and abortion. So, we see storylines like Caitlin Ryan dealing with her epilepsy diagnosis, Derek "Wheels" Wheeler making a drunken life-altering mistake, and Snake struggling to cope with another student's suicide. Perhaps most notably, in this era of "Degrassi," teen mom Christine "Spike" Nelson gives birth to Emma, the initial protagonist of "The Next Generation."

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

Okay, so technically, "The L.A. Complex" doesn't focus on high school students, but it does features an ensemble cast that stars Cassie Steele a.k.a. Manny Santos from "Degrassi: The Next Generation." Santos plays Abby Vargas, a young L.A. transplant and aspiring actor, who lives in a dorm-like situation at "The Lux" motel, along with other twenty-somethings who are also striving for their big break. They all struggle in various ways, as they wade through the cutthroat world of Hollywood in search of personal and professional success. "Firefly" alum Jewel Staite — also featured in "Higher Ground" — is another notable star here.

You might even think of this series as a Manny Santos spin-off — at least in spirit. Manny is an aspiring actor with dreams of stardom, after all. Stefan Brogren ("Degrassi: The Next Generation's" very own Archie Simpson) is one of the show's directors and "Degrassi" co-creator Linda Schuyler is also on board as an executive producer, so we definitely think it's worth a watch for any "Degrassi" fan. "The L.A. Complex" focuses on a different kind of coming-of-age story: one that's less about growing up, and more about learning how to be true to yourself without drowning, once you're fully thrust into a "sink or swim" adult world. What's more is that from its depiction of one character's self-harm to its portrayal of another character's closeted homosexuality, "The L.A. Complex" is no stranger to socially relevant storylines like "Degrassi: The Next Generation."