Parents' Guide to

Degrassi, Old School

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Edgy but responsible; excellent TV for teens.

TV TeenNick Drama 1987
Degrassi, Old School Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 3 parent reviews

lorraine delacorte
lorraine delacorte Adult
July 26, 2018
age 11+

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
TimTheTVGuy
TimTheTVGuy Adult
October 17, 2012
age 7+

Way better than Skins!

This show is so cool! Awesome drama,great action,ect.The voice acting is just PERFECT! Recommended to ALL drama fans!
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

DEGRASSI, OLD SCHOOL is the new name for the popular Canadian series -- originally titled Degrassi Junior High and later, as the characters aged, Degrassi High -- that found a lot of stateside fans when it aired on PBS in the late '80s and early '90s. Still airing today in repeats and available on DVD, the series follows a group of kids living near (where else?) Degrassi Street in Toronto, Canada, as they make their way through junior high and high school. While their clothes, hair, and vocabulary are very late-'80s, the serious and often controversial issues they deal with are still extremely relevant to today's teens. Some of the series' many recurring characters include Christine \"Spike\" Nelson (Amanda Stepto), Derek \"Wheels\" Wheeler (Neil Hope), Archie \"Snake\" Simpson (Stefan Brogren), Joey Jeremiah (Pat Mastroianni), Bryant \"BLT\" Thomas, (Dayo Ade), Lucy Fernandez (Anais Granofsky), and twins Erica and Heather Farrell (Angela and Maureen Deiseach). In true soap opera style, the characters' personal lives are the main focus of the series.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (11 ):

Unlike many teen dramas, such as Beverly Hills, 90210, Degrassi provides an edgy, accurate look at kids and school life. The show isn't about being hip or looking perfect, and the characters don't sport flawless bodies and impeccable designer clothes. Instead, Degrassi is committed to discussing teen issues in a strikingly real, straightforward manner.

Topics like standing up for your principles, dealing with gender inequality, and handling boyfriend troubles are mixed in with concerns about unwanted pregnancy, drug use, homosexuality, alcoholism, oral sex, AIDS, and child molestation. The frankness of some of these discussions makes the show too strong for younger audiences, but for the teen and older tween viewers the show is aimed at, it's this very honesty that makes Degrassi worth watching.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the tricky situations teens face in and out of school. How do you cope with the pressure to do drugs or have sex? Families can also talk about making difficult decisions. What are the pros and cons of each choice we make? Are we prepared to live with the consequences of our choices? Unrealistic portrayals of teenagers on television are something that can also be discussed. Does the fact that the teens look like regular teens make the show more realistic? What else sets it apart from other teen series?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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