Parents' Guide to School Spirits

TV Paramount+ Drama 2023
School Spirits TV show: A teenage girl sits on top of a school desk with candles glowing and to teen boys standing on either side of her.

Common Sense Media Review

Stephanie Morgan By Stephanie Morgan , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Teen murder mystery keeps you guessing; drugs, sexy stuff.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 14+

Based on 9 parent reviews

age 14+

Based on 11 kid reviews

What's the Story?

In SCHOOL SPIRITS the ghost of a teenage girl, Maddie (Peyton List), watches as her friends try to solve the case of her disappearance. Joined by a teen boy who died in the 1990s, she soon finds even more peers when he invites her to join The Split River High Afterlife Support Group. As the school year marches on, Maddie comes closer and closer to finding out what happened to her.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 9 ):
Kids say ( 11 ):

An addictive teen thriller that's surprisingly heartfelt. With a cast of relatable and talented young actors, School Spirits manages to balance dark humor, teenage angst, and supernatural elements to create a murder mystery that will hold viewers' attention throughout its eight episodes. Ghostly teenage sidekicks from a variety of eras are also a clever twist on the solve-my-own-murder genre, and adults will appreciate some of their throwaway humor ("I'm still trying to figure out how Dances with Wolves won seven Academy Awards"). Anyone looking for a riveting teen drama with a supernatural twist should definitely give School Spirits a watch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the scenes involving teenagers vaping and drinking alcohol. Discuss the negative consequences that would result from these choices. Why do you think none of them were presented on School Spirits?

  • Many thrillers and mysteries rely on the use of flashbacks like in School Spirits. Do you think they were used well in this series? Why or why not?

  • Did the show keep you guessing about what happened to Maddie? What techniques did the show use to keep viewers in suspense?

TV Details

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School Spirits TV show: A teenage girl sits on top of a school desk with candles glowing and to teen boys standing on either side of her.

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