The surprising ending of Abbott Elementary season 5, episode 8 – where the school suddenly moves – is actually inspired by a true story. While the show is known for its incredibly funny cast and reliably comedic moments, it also isn’t afraid to tackle real-world problems.
Season 2 explored how charter schools can harm underfunded public schools in disadvantaged communities. Season 4, meanwhile, showed how a lack of maintenance funding forced the school’s teachers to take desperate measures.
The eighth episode of season 5, titled “Birthday,” clearly shows the show isn’t afraid to criticize the problems with America’s public schools. The episode starts with a maintenance worker delivering urgent news: the school’s furnace is failing and could flood the building, forcing an immediate closure.
Abbott Elementary Season 5 Part 2 Will Be Set In A Mall
Image via ABC
Predictably, Ava ignores the warning and, despite Mr. Johnson’s advice from Abbott Elementary, the teachers proceed with their yearly winter show. As expected, the auditorium quickly floods, creating a chaotic situation with surprisingly impactful consequences for those involved.
Despite the gymnasium being completely flooded, the teachers and Principal Ava initially believe the damage isn’t serious and can be repaired over winter break. However, the maintenance man informs them the school will be unusable for weeks, meaning students will need a temporary location when the second part of season 5 begins.
Despite a sudden and unexpected problem, the show’s main character finds a clever solution: turning a vacant mall into a temporary school building while repairs are made to their original location. Season four also saw Principal Ava face a brief firing, highlighting her surprising ability to bounce back from challenges.
Abbott Elementary’s New Season 5 Setting Was a Last-Second Surprise
The show threw a surprise twist at the very end – the school building wasn’t deemed unsafe until the final minutes, and the new location wasn’t even revealed until after the credits. Most of the episode, titled “Birthday,” centered on Janine’s relationship with her mother, played by returning guest star Taraji P. Henson, and Gregory trying to help Jacob with his play.
Jacob’s winter show feels overly ambitious and a bit silly, but Gregory can’t say anything negative about it because he chose not to help produce it. Elsewhere, Janine experienced a particularly painful situation – she let her mother, Vanetta, back into her life, only to have her carelessly criticize her, making it even more upsetting than the Christmas episode of Abbott Elementary season 4.
All the tension between the teachers made the news that their school was suddenly unsafe even more surprising. The show had briefly mentioned problems with the heating system, but no one expected them to be forced to move to an abandoned mall. What’s truly amazing is that this whole situation was inspired by a real event.
Abbott Elementary’s Wild Season 5 Twist Has Its Basis In A Real-Life Story
Image courtesy of Everett Collection
In 2022, Burlington High School moved into a former department store after hazardous chemicals were discovered in their original building, as reported by CBBC’s Newsround. Students have mentioned that the escalators in the new location don’t always work, and the building’s original design as a mall isn’t ideal for a school, as it doesn’t block out much noise.
According to a Slate article, this department store used to be a Macy’s, but it changed in 2018. In 2021, Burlington High School temporarily leased the building. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while students were learning remotely, dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals (polychlorinated biphenyls) were discovered at the school’s original location.
It’s surprisingly not uncommon for high schools to move into old shopping malls. The recent storyline in season 5 of Abbott Elementary might seem far-fetched, but a high school in Joplin, Missouri actually operated out of a former Venture department store for three years, from 2011 to 2014.
A tornado leveled the school in Missouri, and high levels of PCBs forced the closure of Burlington’s school. Students and staff at Abbott are facing a less severe problem: a broken furnace. While inconvenient, repairs are expected to be completed in just a few weeks.
Okay, so it looks like our kids are going to be learning inside a mall for a while – at least until the end of season 5! Honestly, I think it’s going to be absolutely hilarious to see what happens in that setting, and it’s really interesting to learn that this whole thing wasn’t as far-fetched as we initially thought. I’m excited to see how they make it work!
As a film and TV buff, I was genuinely surprised by the mid-season twist in Abbott Elementary – but in a good way! It sounds crazy, but apparently, it’s actually based on something that’s happened in real life. I did some digging and found out that several schools in America have actually moved into vacant shopping malls. So, while the finale surprise felt wild, it’s surprisingly grounded in reality.
Slate
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2025-12-12 15:59