Abbott Elementary Season 5: Jacob and Melissa’s Unconventional Friendship Takes Center Stage

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Season 5 of Abbott Elementary will focus on the developing relationship between Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter) and Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti). After becoming roommates in season 3, the two colleagues formed a close friendship that quickly became a fan favorite. The new season promises to explore Jacob’s story further and show how their bond continues to deepen.

In June 2025, actor Jacob Perfetti shared with ScreenRant that his character has a surprisingly close bond with Melissa, and he’s hopeful their friendship and living situation as roommates will continue to develop.

I think we can still explore the dynamic between these characters as roommates, so I’m hoping Jacob stays put for a while longer.

Though they’re a very unlikely pair, their contrasting personalities are what make them so compelling to watch in season 5.

Melissa Schemmenti And Jacob Hill Are Abbott Elementary’s Best Unconventional Pair

Melissa Schemmenti and Jacob Hill are an unexpected but lovable pair on Abbott Elementary. After becoming roommates in season three, viewers hoped to see more of their friendship explored. However, the show has mainly focused on the developing romance between Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams), as well as the growing role of Ava Coleman (Janelle James), which meant Melissa and Jacob’s bond took a backseat.

Melissa comes across as strong and direct, which can be a bit intimidating, especially when you compare her to Jacob, who is more sensitive and openly emotional. Despite their differences, they actually complement each other well.

Jacob is a beloved teacher who connects with his students through his kindness and willingness to see things differently. He’s a supportive friend who truly listens and challenges old ideas. Melissa, however, is very protective of those she cares about, and her activities outside of school have sometimes raised eyebrows and led to suspicion among others.

Jacob and Melissa didn’t discover their strong connection until they started living together, and fans were disappointed there wasn’t more of them shown at home. Luckily, it seems like season 5 will focus more on their relationship.

Now that we’ve looked closely at Melissa and Barbara Howard, and Gregory and Janine, it’s time to focus on Melissa and Jacob. They’re the next pair we should really examine.

New Elements Of Their Friendship Will Be Shown In Abbott Elementary Season 5

Credit: ABC via MovieStillsDB

Season 5 of Abbott Elementary began strongly in October. The first episode showed the show will explore a new side of the friendship between Jacob Hill and Melissa Schemmenti, now that Melissa has moved from teaching second grade next door to Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) to teaching sixth grade, closer to Jacob.

Because they teach students of the same age, the two teachers have already become friendly at school. Now that their classrooms are on the same floor, they’re sure to interact even more.

For years, Melissa has always been the one helping Jacob deal with life’s challenges. But in season 5, the tables turn – Jacob will be the one supporting Melissa as their kids enter a new stage in school.

According to Perfetti, the upcoming fifth season of Abbott Elementary will show the characters in locations beyond the school more often. To maintain interest in the developing friendship between Melissa and Jacob, the show will feature more scenes set at their homes.

Throughout Abbott Elementary, we’ve seen Melissa’s friendship with Barbara, but her connection with Jacob really highlights how people can form strong bonds even when they’re different ages, have different viewpoints, or live very different lives.

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2025-10-27 19:58