Schools – social institutions designed for children and teenagers with a variety of subjects including home economics, sports, and frequent assessments. In Vietnam, students often have to “study hard” due to the overwhelming number of textbooks, while the short classes and long breaks often raise concerns about the educational “reform” from the authorities.
What you learn in the classroom… or dare not go
However, the classrooms below are not a significant concern due to the fact that no one really spends time “failing” in them. They are often involved in other activities that might be more exciting. And of course, learning here can be far more important compared to the usual “what you can get from the internet” throughout the school year.
1. Charms School – Charmed (1998 – 2005)
True to its name, this was a school for witches where the curriculum included mystical spells and ways for witches to maintain strong control over their powers. Throughout the six seasons, the tranquil environment for witches was often protected by a powerful spell that could shield them from any external threats. However, the school was eventually destroyed due to the constant attacks on Paige Matthews.
Learning to practice spells must be close to books like this…
2. Sunnydale High – Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
If you don’t like witches, this school might attract supernatural beings to make it an “extraordinary” place for study. Conveniently, Sunnydale was built right on a Hellmouth. This is why the school became a hotspot for all kinds of supernatural creatures, from vampires and demons to angels and evil spirits. Luckily, the students’ lives were often protected by a schoolmate who carried a special cross that could ward off the evil spirits.
Built right on the Hellmouth – is it a good idea or should we worry about the educational reform
3. Monsters University – Monsters University (2013)
Who said monsters don’t need to go to school? More than anyone, they need a school to train and learn to become the best scare professionals. The criteria for admission to the school are that you must be scary enough, big and loud enough. If you don’t meet the requirements, the school offers courses like Scary Techniques to help improve your skills before graduation.
Welcome to the school where monsters learn how to scare humans
4. St. Vladimir’s Academy – Vampire Academy (2014)
Vampires always give us the feeling that they are just ordinary creatures, with a luxurious and flamboyant lifestyle. However, they can study the reality of their lives while always having to be careful of bloodthirsty creatures when they have to live alongside humans – the new, healthy and appealing food. The curriculum includes: basic issues of controlling powers, theories of personal protection, or rules about bloodsucking. Such as how vampires shouldn’t drink each other’s blood or suck humans’ blood must have strong consent from the human and can only be done in a short period of time.
Vampires must be “educated” to become civilized, different from the savage lifestyle of werewolves
5. Miss Robichaux’s Academy – American Horror Story: Coven (2013)
This is a special school for witches – those who may not possess strong powers and light, but still must hide their identities as they have specific powers that may affect ordinary people. This beautiful boarding school is a white mansion built in the Garden District of New Orleans in 1856.
A boarding school specifically designed to train the Supremes.
The headmaster is the Supreme witch Fiona Goode. The students selected for the school are all girls with strong magical abilities. They are taught to control their own powers, learn new spells, and develop their abilities to the highest level. At the end of the course, there will be a test to determine who is the next Supreme witch. Any changes may lead to a horrifying outcome for those who wish to become the next ruler.
6. Starfleet Academy – Star Trek
Starfleet Academy is a “national” school in the true sense of the word. Its students and teachers come from different countries, but they also represent a diverse population from other planets across the vast universe. The school trains and educates astronauts, technical staff, and specialist crews – those who will embark on missions to explore distant planets as well as defend against invading extraterrestrial threats from across the cosmos.
If you want to become a space explorer, choose Starfleet Academy
7. Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters – X-Men franchise
It would be a pity if we miss out on mentioning the school that is often overlooked on the big screen. Not only is it a school, but it also serves as a safe haven for mutants – individuals who face discrimination due to their special abilities. The campus is located in Westchester County, New York with a picturesque exterior, resembling a typical suburban residence. But inside, the school has many complex infrastructures such as underground laboratories, titanium steel dormitories, and high-tech facilities.
The educational method of this school is more practical than theoretical as students are very eager to learn through practical experiences.
However, the school is not always a safe haven as it often becomes the scene of conflicts surrounding the relationship of Professor X – the headmaster of the school with the goal of integrating mutants with humans against Magneto – who always wants to fight against humanity.
8. Mystic Falls High School – The Vampire Diaries
If you are looking for a mysterious high school to enroll in, then this academy is the perfect suggestion for you. Here, student life is a series of dramatic events, from romance, love triangles, breakups, to “supernatural” situations that are more intense than ordinary life. Ah, I mean your school experience won’t just be about ordinary humans but also vampires, werewolves, witches, and more. Listen to this, would you still want to take your studies seriously here?
If you study here, you will have the opportunity to experience more dramatic love stories than Twilight…
…but don’t expect too much when it comes to the (little) bloodlust
And if you are tired of vampires, there is another intriguing school that you should definitely check out. That is the Beacon Hill High School from Teen Wolf. This specialized school is exclusively for werewolves, where werewolves and other supernatural beings coexist. To survive among these students, you’d better learn how to adapt quickly and be on guard.
The school caters to the “wild house” style…
Your schoolmate is a werewolf who also has his own unique abilities
9. Brakebills College – The Magicians
This school is exclusively for those with special magical talents. Can you imagine the magical tricks you’ve seen only as “magician’s tricks”? In fact, there are some people in the real world who have special gifts. And all students must pass an entrance exam to enter Brakebills College when they turn 18. A school that teaches magic exists alongside the real world where humans live. The students are quite diverse in their special abilities such as: shapeshifting, teleportation, mind control, conjuration, or traveling through space…
At Brakebills, you will have classes like “killing people” just like this one
10. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Although it is called a home, the peculiar house belongs to Miss Peregrine who also serves as a school to educate children with special abilities. The students living here are not only special, but they also have unique abilities such as flying, invisibility, controlling plants, or having mouths on their hands…
At Miss Peregrine’s home, you will “live forever”
The home is a refuge where you can freely explore your magical talents without worrying too much about the outside world. The daily activities of the students living here are fun, singing, and practicing their special skills while hiding from ordinary people. If you are lucky enough to be a special magician, you can come to this place and live. But there’s one thing you must accept: never grow old due to the “time loop” of Miss Peregrine.
11. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – Harry Potter
And finally, this is the school that every child has always dreamed of learning at. According to author J.K. Rowling, this magical school for witches and wizards is located in Scotland. Nestled by the northern shore of the Black Lake, the main structure of the school is a magnificent castle surrounded by vast wilderness. The students of the school are children from 11-18 years old from all over the world, without discrimination between purebloods or muggles. As long as you have the talent for magic, you will be accepted into Hogwarts.
Hogwarts – the school in the dreams of all children
During the seven years at the school (unless you don’t drop out due to being cursed or fighting with magical creatures), you will learn many interesting subjects such as: Transfiguration, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and many others. However, you must be careful to avoid falling into subjects that lead to trouble such as: Care of Magical Creatures, where you might get injured by the creatures you are supposed to care for.
The main building of Hogwarts where you will be sorted when entering the school
Hogwarts is a boarding school and for students who know how to use magic, your study life won’t just be boring with interesting magical subjects (from transfiguration, potion-making to creature manipulation), but you will also have exciting dueling tournaments. So if you can survive a week without being cursed or attacked by magical creatures at Hogwarts, then you have truly experienced the magic of this school.
