While not as exciting as the last day of school, the first day of school does tend to be memorable for everyone. After all, no one knows what to expect when they step into a new school or classroom for the first time.
With such a wide variety of emotions surrounding the first day of school, it makes for a perfect plot for TV. Nearly every family sitcom has some iteration of the first day of school episode. From the first day of school wardrobe anxiety to the fear of starting a new school and making a good impression, the sitcom has nailed all of these feelings on more than one occasion.
Full House: "Back To School Blues" (Season 3, Episode 2) - 7.4
One of the best DJ Tanner episodes of Full House is her first day of junior high. DJ's excitement soon becomes fear as she learns she only has one class with Kimmy. Things only worsen when they realize that all of their classmates grew up over the summer except them. The final blow for DJ comes at lunch when everyone makes fun of her for wearing the same outfit as a teacher.
Full House perfectly nails the anxieties of adolescence, especially when it comes to middle school. The great thing about this episode is that even though DJ has a terrible first day, she returns the second day determined to make new friends and doesn't succumb to peer pressures, which was a corny but great storyline and life lesson in the series.
Fresh Off The Boat: "First Day" (Season 4, Episode 1) - 7.4
Fresh Off The Boat tackled the first day of school during season four when Eddie started high school. Eddie's day hits a roadblock when he decides to join the football team despite his mother's protests. His younger brothers don't have the best day either when it's revealed that Evan has skipped a grade and is starting middle school with Emery, much to his displeasure.
"First Days" is one of the best episodes because it has something for everyone to resonate with. Jessica's protectiveness of Eddie is a common experience many young boys face when they decide to play football. Still, nothing is more relatable than being overshadowed by your younger sibling who is infringing on your space in middle school.
The Middle: "Back To School" (Season 2, Episode 1) - 7.7
Tired of being the disaster family, a hilarious running gag on The Middle, Frankie sets out to get organized. She makes the kids breakfasts, gets a head start on baking for future bake sales, and even sets up an appointment with Brick's teacher before she's asked. However, all of this quickly backfires, leading to her kids acting out and her getting off on the wrong foot with a teacher.
Not many first-day-of-school episodes focus on the parents, which makes this episode of The Middle so special. Just like the first day of school is hard for kids, it can be even harder for parents, especially those busy juggling their own careers.
Modern Family: "First Days" (Season 5, Episode 2) - 7.8
In the episode, Luke and Manny have started high school, sending Phil and Gloria into an emotional spiral as they realize their kids are growing up. Elsewhere, Alex is dealing with the horrors of Cam stepping in as her substitute teacher despite him knowing nothing about history. And it's also Lily's first day of preschool, which has Cam and Mitch feeling all sorts of emotions.
With a lot going on, this episode can provide comfort for a lot of anxious kids and parents. From parents dealing with the realities of their children growing up to kids dealing with embarrassing family members in their classroom, the episode perfectly encapsulates the highs and lows of the first day of school.
Saved By The Bell: "King Of The Hill" (Season 1, Episode 15) - 7.9
During the first season of Saved By The Bell, Zack starts high school. He has high expectations for the day and is eager to finally win over his crush, Kelly Kapowski. However, his confidence plummets when A.C. Slater transfers to their school and immediately takes an interest in her. The two end up in an all our war, determined to win Kelly over.
Love can definitely be felt in the air on the first day of school, which is why this episode of Saved By The Bell works so well. Not only does it deal with first-day jitters and general anxieties, but the war over a crush makes it feel even more authentic.
Boy Meets World: "Back 2 School" (Season 2, Episode 1) - 8.0
Boy Meets World always dealt with serious topics that adolescents face, which is why it's no surprise they tackled Cory's first day of high school the way they did. Cory and Shawn are initially excited to finally be in high school and away from Mr. Feeny, only to learn that high school isn't all that different and Mr. Feeny is now their principal. The episode also deals with bullying and the awkwardness of having a sibling in the same school.
Boy Meets World does what it does best in this episode by showing how Cory and Shawn overcome their fears as they learn to adapt to their environment. It's also one of Eric's best episodes, as he decides to stand up for Cory even though he didn't want anything to do with him, at first.
The Goldbergs: "Breakfast Club" (Season 4, Episode 1) - 8.0
The Goldbergs is known for parodying 1980s pop culture, and during its fourth season, the series tackled the iconic John Hughes' movie, The Breakfast Club. Adam is determined to become a new person on his first day of high school and takes inspiration from Judd Nelson. Elsewhere, Beverly has acquired her substitute teaching credentials but gets stuck as a janitor. Not to be overlooked, Beverly banishes her kids and their friends to Saturday detention on the first day of school.
While this episode of The Goldbergs might rely on nostalgia, it is quite relatable. Erica is having a rough first day after learning her crush has started dating someone else, which is all too common of a theme for first day of school episodes. And Barry and Adam have the typical conflicts that arise when brothers attend the same school.
Zoey 101: "Back To PCA" (Season 2, Episode 1) - 8.2
After a rocky first year at PCA, Zoey is ready to make her second year the best ever. However, her plans immediately hit a roadblock when she and her best friend, Nicole, get stuck with a very odd roommate. Elsewhere, Chase and Micahel are having roommate problems of their own, as Logan turns their dorm into the party dorm of their building.
Zoey 101 managed to showcase first day of school anxieties when it comes to studying away from home. Not only do boarding school kids face the usual first-day jitters, but their anxieties are elevated by having to room with strangers. Luckily for students and the characters in Zoey 101, their roommates end up becoming lifelong friends.
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide: "First Days And Lockers" (Season 1 Episode 1) - 8.2
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide is one of Nickelodeon's best shows from the 2000s, with the pilot episode being a fan favorite. Ned jumps right into survival mode on his first day of middle school and helps his friends navigate picking classes, first day of school outfits, and new friends.
This episode manages to hit all the major points of first-day jitters, but it goes even further by helping audiences learn how to cope with them. For a generation of middle schoolers, this episode was the most important episode of their childhood.
Alexa & Katie: "Second First Day" (Season 2, Episode 1) - 8.6
After missing out on their first day of freshman year, best friends Alexa and Katie are determined to get things right for the sophomore year. Unfortunately, Katie twists her ankle the night before, which makes Alexa spring into nurse mode, causing tension.
Alexa and Katie manage to perfectly encapsulate teenage friendship and how tense friendships can get when under stressful situations like the first day of school. And yet, despite the bickering and tension, these two come out stronger than ever because they're always there for each other.