Nowadays, the romance genre is used as a required cliché to captivate consumers. Whether you’re watching isekai, shounen, pure action, or sci-fi, you’ll see romantic elements for sure. However, because they are primarily concerned with following their parent category, these categories fall short of showing the best romances. As a result, high school romance anime might be regarded as the ideal archetype for providing an enjoyable romantic experience.
Today, I listed the best romance shows staged in high school. Whether you’re looking for slice-of-life romance, ecchi romance, harem, shoujo, or seinen, this list will have the top shows in each category.
I have ranked these shows respecting their MAL ratings and their effort to deliver high school romance, so if you’re particularly looking for some watch-worthy romances staged in high school, sit tight till the end.
30: The Dreamy Boy Is Realist
This is one of the most recent romance anime on our list. Simply put, this anime is extremely underappreciated for those who merely want to enjoy good romance.
If somebody doesn’t wanna waste numerous episodes to witness the character development of MC, this relaxing romance delivers.
The show follows Wataru Sajou, the epitome of the clingy MC. Confessing his feelings for a lovely lady named Aika Natsukawa is a daily occurrence for him.
One day, while confessing, he realized that his insistence was harming Aika Natsukawa’s general reputation. He suddenly quits being attached and resolves to leave the situation to fate.
29: Masamune-kun’s Revenge
Does the MC of this anime want revenge? Honestly, the title of this show is a little decisive to audiences.
It’s a dramedy teen soap opera that should be treasured if someone likes a straight forward romantic show where enemies become lovers.
The MC for this show Masamune was formerly the ugliest student, but after being spurned by a childhood crush, he decided to concentrate on his appearance and return as a hot high school student.
Yet he craves vengeance. How will he exact his revenge? By making that girl fall in love with her and then rejecting her.
But the girl Aki Adagaki is not his usual chick, she is renowned as the cruel princess popular for rejecting male proposals.
28: O Maidens In Your Savage Season
Are you into some seinen romance anime that present a maturistic storyline avoiding some fantasy drama settings?
Make sure to treasure this romance anime staged in high school and highlights the struggles between youth and their growing feelings.
Izumi Norimoto and Kazusa Onodera were like siblings as toddlers, but once they entered middle school, they developed enough to experience gender bias.
They both like each other but are hesitant to accept their feelings. There are also four more girls dealing with comparable adulthood transitions.
Will this bunch of troubled middle schoolers overcome these natural changes? Watch on your own.
27: How To Raise A Boring Girlfriend
Similar to its title, Saekano “How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend” is criticized for its slow pacing. That’s why it’s one of the rarest ecchi anime with no action and no spice.
The story revolves around an otaku-obsessed student Tomoya Aki who is now determined to create his own game.
Since it’s not a one-man task, Tomoya requires a team to make his dream come true. Fatefully he found three expert girls in different fields.
Even though he has the source material and team to create the game, he wants to feel those emotions first as a creator to deliver the best game storyline.
26: The Fruit Of Grisaia
The Fruit of Grisaia is a psychological romance where mc is op even though he didn’t want to.
You say you’ll only watch one more episode, but by the end, you’ve seen all of them! The Fruit of Grisaisa is such an anime that accomplishes precisely that!
Yuuji Kazami, an ex-militant soldier, wishes to have a normal high school life. He enrolls in Mihama Academy to accomplish his dream.
Upon arrival, he realizes that there are five problematic girls living in this academy, each with a tragic backstory. Even though Kazami came here for personal purposes, he is now obliged to interweave in order to save these females.
25: More Than A Married Couple But Not Lovers
You’ll be wondering after watching this high school romance, if the school system of Japan is this awkward!
Those who enjoy unrequited love or love triangles should watch this latest romance anime with a blend of humorous fanservice.
Welcome to the insane school settings, where a pair of opposite genders need to practice couple living to gain points.
Among this situation lies an average student Jirou Yakuin and a quirky gal Akari Watanabe. Instead of partnering with their desired partners, they’re paired to perform this activity.
If they secure the top ranks, they will be able to switch partners. Can this bizarre couple be able to pull this off, let’s figure it out.
24: The Quintessential Quintuplets
Tired of seeing dumb harem plots in which each female falls for mc for no apparent reason? So, The Quintessential Quintuplets is here for a treat.
A poor but smart student named Futaro Uesugi is hired to tutor five rich and beautiful sisters. The girls are all in the same class and have the same face but each one has a different personality and taste.
Futaro has to deal with their antics and troubles while trying to improve their grades and skills but he also has a secret from his past that connects him to one of the girls at last.
23: Orange
“Sometimes it is better to learn from the past than to strive to change everything… But if given the opportunity, what would we actually do?”
This sadistic slice of life romance anime tries to give an answer with a ride of emotional rollercoaster.
A girl named Naho Takamiya receives letters from her future self, warning her of a boy named Kakeru Naruse and his doomed fate. He is a new transfer student who lost his mother to suicide and is at risk of dying in an accident unless Naho intervenes.
A girl named Naho Takamiya receives letters from her future self who warns her about a boy named Kakeru Naruse and his fate. He is a new transfer student who lost his mother to suicide and he will also die in an accident unless Naho can change it
Naho and her friends try to save Kakeru from his despair by supporting him, befriending him, and showing him they care. Can they able to change his doomed fate?
22: Blue Spring Ride
The idea of a childhood girl developing a crush on a boy has been done many times before in shojo but the way Blue Spring Ride carries this trope is truly wholesome.
Unlike other shojo romances with a profusion of side stories, this anime delivers a straightforward romantic tale between two main characters leading a sadistic story towards healthy ending.
Futaba and Kou Tanaka, who were once drawn to each other, now behave like absolute strangers in high school.
This divide between them was formed when Kou abruptly quit attending school owing to family concerns.
Fatuba becomes aware of Kou Tanaka’s position and decides to help him out of pain via faithful friendship and care.
21: The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You
Looking at its absurd branding, anyone can tell this is nothing but lame ecchi anime with a lot of fan service. If you think the same, make sure you give a shot to hilarious quirky romance.
Rentarou Aijou is your lowest-ranking high schooler, having recently finished his century of rejection by the 100th girl.
While praying at the shrine, God appears and tells him that he is fortunate to have 100 women and that his fate can’t be changed.
Here’s the twist: he can’t say no to any girl since the stakes are huge. Will he date 100 girls at once? I am confident you will get the most surprising plot.
20: Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable
This is the latest romantic anime with little to no tension giving us plenty of opportunity to enjoy the anime’s wholesomeness.
There’s literally zero percent drama in the whole storyline.
This uncomplicated story follows Tsubasa Shiki, a decent young man who has lately relocated from Tokyo to Hokkaido.
On his first day, he meets a lovely trendy gal in a chilling atmosphere. As he befriends her, his fate changes and he begins to wow the hot girls at school.
Honestly, there is nothing unique about this anime’s premise; yet, it is best suited for those who enjoy a simple rom-com.
19: Charlotte
What if you had a superpower that only lasted for a few seconds? Would you use it for good or for evil? Would you hide it or flaunt it?
That is the question faced by the teenagers in Charlotte, an anime series that takes place in an alternate world where some children develop special abilities during puberty.
But these abilities are not as glamorous as they seem. They often come with drawbacks, limitations, and dangers.
Yuu Otosaka is one of these children. He has the power to possess anyone he sees for five seconds. He uses his power to cheat on exams and get into a prestigious high school.
But his life changes when he meets Nao Tomori, a girl who can make herself invisible to one person. She exposes his cheating and forces him to transfer to Hoshinoumi Academy, a school for ability users.
If you are looking for a unique and realistic supernatural romance anime, you should definitely watch Charlotte. It is an original series created by Jun Maeda, the writer of Angel Beats! and Clannad.
18: The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten
A romance anime in which a popular girl falls for the MC is a common plot setting, and this high school-based romance uses the same tropes but in more realistic circumstances.
The plot revolves around the introverted protagonist, Amane Fujimiya, who shares his umbrella with Mahiru Shiina, a popular girl at school, on a rainy day.
With this little good deed, he came to aware that she’s lived next to his doorstep. As she is willing to share homemade meals to lessen her expenses their lives intertwine slowly and gradually.
Fans have thoroughly appreciated this innocent romance slice of life, and gladly The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten’s second season has already been announced.
17: My Love Story
Whereas most anime series aim to build appealing character designs to entice viewers, My Love Story anime takes a different approach by portraying a really unattractive male main character.
This one of the best Shojo romance anime follows a giant guy Takeo Goda with a giant heart. But he has no luck with girls who always prefer his friend, Makoto Sunakawa.
When he protects Rinko Yamato from a harasser on the train, she unexpectedly falls in love with him and expresses interest in dating.
My Love Story is a comical and sweet anime about love, friendship, and self-esteem. It will make you laugh, weep, and grin with each installment.
16: Komi Can’t Communicate
We’ve all been there – too shy to talk to others and make friends. But in the case of Komi, things are a little worse.
Komi Can’t Communicate is a hilarious romance anime that is a little more focused on laughter over love and highlights the struggles of people struggling with anxiety to talk.
Komi Shouko’s lack of communication makes even simple interactions terribly stressful. Enter the kindhearted Tadano, who sees through Komi’s silence to the hilarious and imaginative girl inside.
As her self-appointed communication aide, he’ll be by her side as she takes baby steps out of her shell.
Their lovely friendship journey, misadventures in class, and Komi’s sincere efforts to understand others all combine to create a charming anime that reminds us of the power of kindness and love.
15: My Teen Romantic Snafu
It rarely happens when an MC is shown as a lame arrogant dude and yet fans root for him. On top of that, this romance anime comes with a brutal love triangle.
A boy named Hachiman Hikigaya is a cynical and pessimistic loner who hates the superficiality and hypocrisy of modern society.
He is forced to join the Service Club by his teacher where he meets Yukino Yukinoshita, a cold and smart perfectionist and Yui Yuigahama, a friendly and popular optimist.
Hachiman and his clubmates help other students with their problems using their wit, insight, and unconventional methods.
14: Tsukigakirei
A show featuring children as the main cast doesn’t really fit the description of the best drama romance anime, isn’t it? I am sure your thoughts will be changed after watching this underrated romance anime.
In Akane and Kotarou, we see two shy middle schoolers who have yet to experience the thrill and terror of love. Akane finds herself drawn to Kotarou’s gentle nature, while he admires her fiery determination.
As they each take their own baby steps toward confessing, we can’t help but root for this imperfect yet beautiful first romance.
13: Maid Sama
While it may not appear to be the most innovative anime, Maid Sama yet deviates from the typical tsundere-falls-in-love-with-popular-dude plotline.
Misaki is not your average shoujo lead. As student council head, she conceals a secret – working nights at a maid cafe.
The plot is straightforward. Misaki meets Kanato, the handsome popular boy. Their romance blossoms gradually through typical high school events. Slice of life is evident in activities, contests, and meddlesome love triangles.
12: Insomniacs After School
Sadly there are a handful of shows that successfully deliver a creative storyline blended with romance.
If you’re a teenager stuck in the first gear, you may find encouragement and solace from this high school romance anime that is staged in high school settings.
This wholesome romance anime follows Ganta Nakami, a high schooler troubled with sleepless nights. While finding a place to take a nap in school, he encounters a fellow insomniac Isaki Magari.
They began taking naps on a daily basis in this hideout until their teacher found out and provided them with a way to counter this situation.
11: Toradora!
Despite being criticized by audiences for its terribly slow pacing, there’s no denying the fact that sometimes a slow-paced storyline delivers the most in-depth plot.
Ryuuji and Taiga appear total opposites – he’s pleasant but poor, she’s fierce and rich. Yet both shield deep insecurities.
Through misunderstandings and meddling friends, their prickly outlooks clash. But interacting breaks through barriers to reveal caring hearts within.
Real love isn’t about looks but who genuinely sees our truths. Their friendship’s power encourages self-acceptance and helps others find the courage to love as the girl first fall in love with mc.
10: Lovely Complex
Since 2010, we have seen many romance anime where the female is taller than mc presenting a unique flavor as a couple. And it all begins after the success of Lovely Complex.
Risa is tall and tries to hide her insecurities beneath a sharp wit. Otani endures short jokes while secretly wanting to support a caring partner. Their differences could tear them apart, but instead bring them together.
Though others focus only on height, they see beyond surface levels. Their friendship teaches that meaningful love isn’t defined by physical traits, but found in mutual understanding and acceptance.
Lovely Complex is a refreshing high school romance anime for anyone who believes compatibility is far deeper than meets the eye.
9: Kimi Ni todoke From me to you
If witnessing the harmless encounter of two naïve persons struck by an unfathomable tempest, finding themselves in a whirlwind of chaos and feeling, simply piques your interest, Kimi Ni Todoke is for you.
This shojo romance features Sawako, who is feared for her resemblance to a horror film character, and just wants friends.
Enter Kazehaya, the most popular boy in class. Against the rumors, he notices Sawako’s kind spirit and begins talking to her. Sawako is overjoyed to have her first high school friend.
As they spend more time together, feelings start to develop between Sawako and Kazehaya. But Sawako’s past reputation leads their peers to doubt their blossoming relationship.
Will they be able to avoid all the whispers following the sounds of their hearts? let’s find out by watching this classic high school romance anime.
8: Hyouka
The anime anime started slowly… Slow pacing shouldn’t be an issue because it’s in the Mystery genre, and those who can get over the beginning will undoubtedly receive a mysterious high school anime loaded with romance.
Oreki just wants an easy school life, but his sister makes him join the Classics Club. Lucky for him, Eru Chitanda has also joined, fulfilling his duty.
But Chitanda’s inquisitive nature draws him in and he willingly stays. Along with friends Satoshi and Mayaka, they begin solving small mysteries around the school sparked by Chitanda’s endless curiosity.
The club provides intrigue while strengthening their bonds in this coming-of-age tale giving us a binge-worthy high school romance anime.
7: Skip And Loafer
Despite being the adaptation of an award-winning manga “Skip And Loafer” is still unknown to many and this hurts.
A lack of communication has been a recurring topic in many previous shoujo anime. Now prepare for an emotionally intelligent/perceptive cast that communicates with one another to strengthen their bonds!
Like a typical Shojo romance anime with a cool male character the kicks off by introducing a very average-looking rural gal Mitsumi Iwakura who has recently joined a prestigious Tokyo high school.
On her first day of school, she ran into trouble and caused a huge blunder which put her in the limelight in school. Will she be able to forge new friendships and pursue her romantic journey with Cool MC?
6: Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai
I’m sure a few people started watching the show after seeing the cover image and the Bunny Girl title. However, you won’t see a girl wearing a rabbit suit all the time… Sorry to disappoint.
It may lack the fan service as a romance anime yet provides a soothing experience where older girl senpai falls for younger MC.
Sakuta’s days at school are calm until she encounters a senior girl wearing a hot bunny costume in the library.
He meets the girl in blue and finds she suffers from a confusing condition called puberty syndrome and lends a hand to help her.
Will he be able to rescue this hottie amidst high school settings while some other similar cases are pending him to discover? Watch this one of the best psychological romance anime.
5: Your Lie In April
Okay, enough with the rom-com; prepare to watch the most dramatic romance anime that takes place in the workplace and high school.
The story is simple yet heartwarming where the MC Kousei Arima has lost his piano talent after the death of his beloved mother.
While being buried in pits of disparity, enters eccentric violinist Kaori Miyazono who thrusts him back into the spotlight as her accompanist.
Through a little lie, both high schoolers have found solace in each other company and begin falling for each other until the lie opens up.
4: My Dress Up Darling
It’s an open challenge; find me a more watch-worthy ecchi romance anime than My Dress Up Darling. I am confident you won’t get better than this one.
The quirky show follows an introverted MC Wakana Gojo and cosplay lover Marin Kitagawa. Marin does love cosplaying yet unable to create one for her own.
This is where Wakana Gojo’s sewing skills shine and their lives intertwine as he begins helping her pursue her dream of competing in cosplay competitions.
3: Kaguya Sama Love Is War
Where in most anime, fans desperately wait for the couple to fall in love, in Kaguya Sama Love Is War, both couples are already in love and yet spend three seasons to finally confess to each other.
Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane are elite geniuses leading their school’s student council. But neither will confess feeling for the other first, beginning their minds’ battle for dominance.
Their wills clash in the most creative ways, fearing any weakness or loss of pride. Yet underneath the psychological contests lies a spark neither can deny.
As their war of wits escalates, will real love awaken? Find out by watching this funniest rom-com where a rich girl falls in love with a commoner mc.
2: The Dangers in My Heart
Otaku cults will find it tough to consider The Dangers In My Heart on above Kaguya Sama. Well according to high school romance anime, The Dangers In My Heart deserves to be ranked above because its whole storyline is staged in school settings.
After viewing this wonderfully balanced romantic anime, your comments will be nothing more than “wholesome” regarding this show.
The anime follows two interesting characters, Kotaro Ichikawa and Anna Yamada. Both are middle school school with totally differing personalities.
While being harassed by an upperclassman, Ichikawa steps in to save Anna Yamada. With this little good deed, both little souls begin interacting on a daily basis giving fans a relaxing romance experience.
If you do admire complex coupling shows, make sure to treasure this romance anime where the girl is taller than mc.
1: Horimiya
Romcoms typically make a mistake and follow a formula of hackneyed cliches, making them difficult to watch; nevertheless, this does the reverse. As someone who enjoys romcoms and romance-themed anime, this one checks all the boxes for a terrific and unique relationship.
For beginners to Otaku cults, Horimiya is undoubtedly the best high school romance anime under 13 episodes.
Hori and Miyamura seem like total opposites. At school, she’s popular while he’s isolated. But at home, she glows as a stunning beauty and he relaxes hiding tattoos under long sleeves.
When fate brings their hidden worlds together, more than secrets are revealed. As friendship grows deeper, hidden layers continue unfolding – like shy smiles beneath harsh exteriors.
Conclusion:
Honestly, there are hundreds of romance anime staged in high school settings, yet I have handpicked the best thirty according to their mal ratings and screen time within school settings. Even though thirty recommendations are more than enough, you can hit me via contacts if there’s a worthy anime that should be included in this list.
