Hawkins High School

Lore & Background

Hawkins High School is the educational institution that Max attends after moving to Hawkins in 1984. She joins the same class as Will Byers, Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair, and Dustin Henderson at Hawkins Middle School initially, but the high school becomes the setting for later seasons. The school hosts the Snow Ball in season 2, where Max agrees to dance with Lucas and they share their first kiss. By season 4, Max has withdrawn from her friends, breaking up with Lucas and resisting his attempts to reach out. The school counselor is mentioned as someone Max begins seeing after Billy's death. The school is also where Max sees Eddie Munson and Chrissy Cunningham enter a trailer, leading to the discovery of Chrissy's death and the group's investigation into Vecna's attacks on teenagers in Hawkins.

Reader's Guide

Hawkins High School is a central location for the teenage characters in Stranger Things, particularly for Max and her friends. It is where they navigate social hierarchies, relationships, and the supernatural threats that plague Hawkins. The school hosts the Snow Ball in season 2, a key event where Max and Lucas share their first kiss. In season 4, the school is referenced as the place where Max sees Eddie Munson and Chrissy Cunningham, leading to the group's investigation into Vecna.

The school counselor is mentioned as someone Max sees after Billy's death. The school grounds are also where the group deduces Vecna's method of choosing victims based on emotional scars. Max's experiences at the school reflect her emotional struggles, including her grief over Billy's death and her strained relationships with her friends. The school serves as a backdrop for the group's efforts to stop Vecna and save Hawkins from the Upside Down.