10 Best Episodes of ‘Abbott Elementary’ Season 4, Ranked

Abbott Elementary has officially wrapped up its fourth season, and already, Season 5 can’t come fast enough! Season 4 of the workplace sitcom ramps up both the comedy and the stakes, as the teachers end up blackmailing the local golf course for supplies, and it backfires in shocking and heartbreaking ways. The season also sees the start of Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory’s (Tyler James Williams) relationship, after three seasons of build-up.

This season of Abbott Elementary is strong as a whole, with a number of creative and hilarious storylines, as well as some significant development for each of the main characters. It tests the teachers in new ways, introduces some new love interests for them, and puts them in some wildly funny scenarios. These are the best episodes of Abbott Elementary Season 4, ranked.

10

“100th Day of School”

Season 4, Episode 15

Many of Abbott Elementary‘s best episodes combine a school-wide event with issues that the teachers are dealing with in their own lives. “100th Day of School” shows the Abbott Elementary School students celebrating the 100th day of school, which consists of dressing like 100-year-olds and attending a ceremony. At the same time, Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) feels old after she learns that she is going to be a grandmother.

That news, combined with a student thinking that Barbara is 100 years old, leads her to ask Ava (Janelle James) for a makeover. “100th Day of School” is a very fun episode that gives Barbara a fascinating storyline. Meanwhile, chaos ensues when Sweet Cheeks, the guinea pig, goes missing after escaping from a plastic ball gifted by Jacob (Chris Perfetti). It’s a hilarious storyline that culminates in a sweet reunion between Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) and Sweet Cheeks.

9

“District Budget Meeting”

Season 4, Episode 14

Up until “District Budget Meeting,” the storyline of the teachers blackmailing the golf course for school supplies is just a fun and hilarious side plot that also makes things better for Abbott. “District Budget Meeting” starts to hint at the trouble that is to come, as the School Board and teachers from other schools start to get suspicious when Abbott does not need as many supplies as everyone else.

A combination of Jacob flying close to the sun and Ava trying to help the other schools gets Abbott in trouble with the School Board. This is the perfect set-up for what is to come, as it shows Ava putting herself at risk to help others. In a sweet subplot, Janine and Gregory tell each other that they love each other for the first time.

8

“Girard Creek”

Season 4, Episode 12

The ongoing storyline with the golf course is the subject of many of Abbott Elementary‘s best episodes in Season 4. In “Girard Creek,” the students and teachers at Abbott get invited to an early opening of the golf course. This episode is absolutely hilarious, as the teachers end up getting charmed by the fancy club and the expensive snacks, before realizing that it is all a ruse.

Additionally, Barbara encourages Gregory to try some new foods, and he learns that he has a taste for truffles. Jacob convinces the golf course to host a golf club for interested Abbott students. It’s a great episode that takes the time to move individual character arcs forward, while also continuing to expand on the storyline with the golf course.

7

“Ringworm”

Season 4, Episode 2

“Ringworm” poses the question: how would the staff and students of Abbott Elementary School react to a ringworm outbreak? The answer is wildly funny, as elaborate measures are put in place to separate the floors of Abbott in order to keep it from spreading. Things get very intense, with the formation of new rules, clashing between those on different floors, and even a hazmat suit.

The episode is absolutely hilarious, but it also takes the time to give focus to Janine and Gregory’s new relationship. He initially cancels his plans with her to avoid getting ringworm, but he ultimately gets past the fear (and they both get ringworm anyway). Abbott Elementary is always especially fun when the teachers are dealing with a problem at Abbott, and this one is particularly silly and over-the-top.

6

“Please Touch Museum”

Season 4, Episode 22

Abbott Elementary‘s field trip episodes are always excellent, and the Season 4 finale is no exception. In “Please Touch Museum,” the faculty and staff of Abbott Elementary School take the kids on a field trip to a museum where they are encouraged to touch and interact with the displays. The eighth graders are disinterested, so they end up putting on a play about their teachers… where they have to play each other.

Meanwhile, Gregory’s father (Orlando Jones) volunteers to be a chaperone on the trip, and he meets Janine for the first time. She initially impresses him by pretending to be like him, but when her actual self is revealed, he likes her even better. This leads to a touching heart-to-heart between Gregory and his father, where Gregory’s father tells him that Janine reminds him of Gregory’s mother. Additionally, Ava and O’Shon (Matthew Law) have a miscommunication about a pair of earrings that ultimately brings them closer as a couple.

5

“Audit”

Season 4, Episode 18

“Audit” is the most intense episode of Abbott Elementary‘s fourth season, as the tension between Abbott and the district hits a boiling point. Two representatives from the district, Jim Rash and Wayne Wilderson, show up to audit Abbott after it was rumored that the school had been accepting unsanctioned donations. In a classic sitcom scenario, the faculty and staff scramble to hide all the perks that they’ve received from the golf course.

Even though they are able to hide everything, the staff of Abbott still get caught, and Ava protects everyone else by taking full responsibility for accepting the bribes. She ends up getting fired, which is truly heartbreaking, and which lasts for several episodes. This is an important storyline, paying off on a whole season of build-up, while showing why Abbott needs Ava as its principal.

4

“Winter Break”

Season 4, Episode 8

Abbott Elementary always has great holiday episodes, and the second half of its two-part Season 4 Christmas episode is an especially strong installment. It shows Ava crashing Janine and Gregory’s first Christmas as a couple because she doesn’t want to be alone, while Melissa tries to impress her family while hosting an elaborate Christmas dinner.

The latter is an absolutely hilarious storyline, as the dinner gets hit with an unexpected roadblock when it seems like Melissa’s Uncle Archie (Ian Patrick Williams) has died. Unwilling to let this ruin her dinner, Melissa schemes to keep this a secret from her family until after everyone has eaten, with the help of Jacob and his brother, Caleb (Tyler Tomás Perez).

3

“Karaoke”

Season 4, Episode 17

“Karaoke” takes the faculty and staff away from Abbott for a rare night episode, thanks to a coupon for a room at a karaoke bar. Gregory has to get there late because he’s still working as a rideshare driver, while Ava is absent due to her first date with O’Shon. Meanwhile, Janine invites Erika (Courtney Taylor) to cheer her up after her latest breakup with Simon (Benjamin Norris), only to find out that they’ve gotten back together when she brings him with her.

This is such a fun episode with some excellent musical moments that show the teachers all performing. Some of the highlights include a duet where Gregory surprises Janine by leaving work early and a heavy metal song that Jacob performs after bumping into Zach (Larry Owens). Ava’s date with O’Shon initially goes very badly, but it ends well, with the two of them ultimately showing up together for karaoke.

2

“Volunteers”

Season 4, Episode 9

It is hard to do a crossover well, but the first of Abbott Elementary‘s crossover with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (the second of which will be airing on July 9 on FXX) blew it out of the water. The episode shows the Gang arriving at Abbott for court-ordered volunteer hours, although the faculty and staff of Abbott initially just think that they are there are normal volunteers.

Many hijinks ensue, including Dee (Kaitlin Olson) trying to get between Janine and Gregory, and Frank (Danny DeVito) inciting a rivalry with Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis). Additionally, Mac (Rob McElhenney) is too good of an assistant to Ava, leading him to switch things up in order to get her to let them off early. The best storyline of the episode shows Barbara, Melissa, and Jacob finally teaching Charlie (Charlie Day) how to read.

1

“Rally”

Season 4, Episode 21

There are many fantastic episodes in Abbott Elementary‘s fourth season, but “Rally” feels like the culmination of it all, as a number of parents, students, and members of the community band together to get Ava her job back. When the latest meeting with the district ends with Ava still fired, and the rest of the teachers (aside from Gregory) suspended for a week, the students hold a protest in their honor.

The school board continues to be uncaring and cold in this episode, and it is such a great scene when they realize that they have no choice but to hire Ava and reverse the teachers’ suspension. Everyone shows up for Ava, including Tariq (Zack Fox) and the PTA, Ava’s nemesis and former sorority sister, Crystal (Tatyana Ali), and even Ava’s father (Keith David).

NEXT: The 10 Best Sitcoms You Can Binge In a Single Weekend