Abbott Elementary: Ranking the Top 7 Friendships

The close friendships between the characters are a major reason why Abbott Elementary is such a beloved and critically acclaimed show. Over five seasons, these relationships have developed naturally, feeling genuine and not contrived for the audience.

Even though the teachers at Abbott Elementary come from different generations and have different ways of life, they’ve all learned from each other and become closer as they work to improve their underfunded school. As the show goes on, their friendships get stronger, and they appreciate each other’s unique perspectives.

7. Janine And Melissa

Janine Teagues and Melissa Schemmenti are a delightful duo on Abbott Elementary because they’re so different. Janine is a new teacher who always looks on the bright side, full of energy and confidence, even when her plans don’t quite work. Melissa, in contrast, is more experienced, practical, and doesn’t shy away from a little bit of mischief.

Janine helps Melissa focus on the positive, and Melissa shows Janine how to be more assertive when necessary. Melissa’s determination inspires the newer teachers, and she’s become a mentor figure for Janine.

In Season 2, the episode “Principal’s Office” really highlighted the strong friendship between Janine and Melissa. Melissa noticed Janine consistently eating lonely, simple lunches and invited her over for a home-cooked meal, also offering to teach her how to cook affordable dishes.

Janine and Melissa connected because they were both having disagreements with their sisters. While they have a lot to offer each other, they aren’t the closest friends in their group.

6. Mr. Johnson And Ava

William Stanford Davis plays Mr. Johnson, the janitor at Abbott Elementary, and while he knows everyone, he’s particularly close to Principal Ava Coleman, played by Janelle James. He’s known for being a bit nosy.

Ava stands out from the rest of the team with her bold, sarcastic, and determined personality – she always fights for what she believes she deserves. Mr. Johnson shares these same qualities, having overcome many challenges throughout his life.

These two characters share a similar energy – they’re unpredictable and a bit enigmatic. Plus, they both have low-key jobs outside of teaching at Abbott Elementary, and their jokes often follow a similar pattern.

Ava and Mr. Johnson are both strong individuals who offer each other quiet support. Ava has increasingly become a central figure at Abbott Elementary, but she’s always treated Mr. Johnson with the same respect, appreciating him as a valued member of the school community who enjoys connecting with the teachers. She also genuinely values his perspective.

In the second season episode “Wrong Delivery,” Ava often seeks advice from Mr. Johnson, especially when deciding how to spend extra money for the school. She even includes him when giving gifts to teachers. While their playful disagreements are entertaining, Ava and Mr. Johnson don’t have one of the show’s closest relationships.

5. Gregory And Jacob

Jacob Hill and Gregory Eddie’s friendship began with Jacob already working at Abbott Elementary for a year before Gregory joined as a substitute teacher. Eventually, Gregory became a full-time teacher and became part of the close-knit group at the school.

Jacob was instantly drawn to Gregory as a friend, but Gregory took a little longer to get used to the school’s quirky teachers and unpredictable principal. Jacob’s enthusiastic attempts to connect with Gregory were genuinely funny to watch. Over time, Gregory began to appreciate Jacob’s lively personality, and their friendship grew stronger.

In season 3, Jacob, with his cheerful and outgoing personality, and Gregory, who is more reserved and thoughtful, grow closer as Jacob goes through a difficult breakup with Zach. Gregory offers Jacob quiet, steady support, and their friendship becomes stronger.

Okay, so we’re five seasons in now, and Jacob and Gregory have really become close. They hang out outside of school a lot, and they’re always there for each other when it comes to their love lives. It’s a cool dynamic – they’re total opposites in a lot of ways, but they balance each other out. And Jacob is super supportive of Gregory and Janine getting together, which is a big part of what’s going on with the overall story in Abbott Elementary.

What sets their friendship apart from others, like Mr. Johnson and Ava’s or Janine and Melissa’s, is how much time they spend together outside of work. They’re clearly very comfortable and at ease around each other, and it shows.

4. Janine And Jacob

The first season of Abbott Elementary heavily featured the friendship between Janine and Jacob. As new teachers navigating their first year, they bonded over their shared desire to improve conditions at their underfunded school.

Janine and Jacob are both enthusiastic and dedicated teachers. They both look up to Barbara Howard as a mentor and share a strong connection with Gregory. Their shared passion for their students is clear, making them a delightful and engaging pair at Abbott Elementary.

The first season of “Work Friends” showed the beginning of Janine and Jacob’s connection. Janine considered Jacob a close friend, but he initially saw their relationship as purely professional. This realization upset Janine, but it also led to a deeper connection between them. By season 5, they’ve become deeply involved in each other’s lives and have developed a strong friendship that extends beyond their workplace at Abbott Elementary.

3. Barbara And Janine

Barbara and Janine are close friends, but their connection feels more like a mother and daughter. Janine has always admired Barbara and seen her as a guide since starting at Abbott Elementary.

Barbara has taught at Abbott Elementary for over 30 years and is a truly dedicated teacher. She’s easy to connect with, sharing her expertise with both students and colleagues. Janine especially admires Barbara, not just for her teaching skills, but as a mentor and role model.

Janine lacked a consistent mother figure during her childhood, and Barbara has become a maternal presence in her life. In the episode “Mom,” Janine’s mother, Vanetta (played by Taraji P. Henson), visited Abbott Elementary to meet Janine’s students, but her visit wasn’t motivated by good intentions.

Barbara quickly figured out that Vanetta was only visiting Janine to ask for money, not because she genuinely wanted to see her. Barbara stepped in to protect Janine, which Janine welcomed, even if she didn’t necessarily need it at that moment. This event brought them closer, and Barbara has been a mentor and guide to Janine ever since.

2. Melissa And Barbara

Melissa and Barbara became close friends during the first season of Abbott Elementary. Both had taught at the school for a long time and had seen all kinds of students come and go.

This friendship is a highlight of the show, thanks to their playful teasing and how different they are. It demonstrates that people can learn and grow from each other, even when they have very different perspectives.

Barbara is deeply religious and prioritizes her family and church community. She frequently talks about her faith and encourages Melissa to live a moral life.

The show finds humor in the strong friendship between the two characters, despite them often disagreeing. They haven’t always gotten along, though – for example, in the episode ‘Attack Ad,’ Barbara criticizes Melissa’s choices after a smear campaign targets Abbott.

On “Panel,” Barbara discovered Melissa hadn’t been fully open with her about her personal life, which made her feel left out when Jacob seemed to know more. Despite any disagreements, they consistently put their differences aside and remain one of the show’s closest friendships.

1. Melissa And Jacob

The strongest friendship in Abbott Elementary is between Melissa and Jacob. Their surprising connection provides both humor and emotional support throughout the show.

I’m a big supporter of Jacob! He’s a really inspiring young teacher who genuinely wants to make a difference. He’s a total free thinker, which is pretty different from Melissa – she’s more of a realist with a dry wit. But honestly, they balance each other out perfectly. Melissa keeps Jacob grounded, and he brings out a softer, more caring side in her. It’s a great dynamic to see!

During the third season’s “Librarian” episode, Jacob and Melissa became closer when they both needed to find someone to share an apartment with. Jacob ended up moving in with Melissa, and they discovered they actually had a lot in common.

They connected over shared interests, from watching The Real Housewives of New Jersey to cooking. Their strong connection at work led them to keep their friendship a secret from colleagues like Barbara, Janine, and Mr. Johnson, fearing it might cause jealousy.

The episode “Ballgame” from Season 5 was particularly funny, showing Melissa playfully introducing Jacob to the traditions of baseball – like beer and hot dogs. It was a sweet reminder that Melissa and Jacob are always connecting and teaching each other, even off-screen, which is a highlight of Abbott Elementary.

2025-11-23 18:41