If you’ve been following the ghostly halls of Split River High, you already know that School Spirits has a way of pulling you in deeper with every season. With season 3 now streaming on Paramount+, the show’s cast has grown — and shifted — in ways that change the entire dynamic. Here’s a complete, fact-checked guide to every main and new face you’ll see, backed by official sources and casting announcements.

Seasons aired: 3 (2023–2026) · Main cast members: 6 · Network: Paramount+ · Renewed for season 4: Yes (announced 2026) · Lead actor: Peyton List as Maddie Nears · Rotten Tomatoes season 3 score: TBD (not yet published)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • Season 3 premiered (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Season 4 announced later in 2026 (Rotten Tomatoes)
4What’s next
  • Season 4 in development; no release window yet
  • Maddie’s storyline with Janet and Mr. Martin to continue
The upshot

School Spirits season 3 delivers the largest cast shake-up yet, with two recurring actors promoted to main roles and a Hollywood veteran joining the ensemble. For fans, that means more ghostly backstory — but also more questions about who’s really pulling the strings.

The facts table below captures the series’ core identifiers.

Key facts about School Spirits
Attribute Value Source
Series premiere 2023 Wikipedia
Season 3 premiere 2026 Rotten Tomatoes
Network Paramount+ Wikipedia
Lead actor Peyton List Rotten Tomatoes
Number of seasons 3 (renewed for 4) Wikipedia
Genre Supernatural drama / mystery Wikipedia

Who is in season 3 of School Spirits?

Main cast returning for season 3

The core six carry the show’s emotional weight. Peyton List reprises her role as Maddie Nears, the ghostly teen trying to solve her own murder. Kristian Ventura returns as Simon Elroy, Maddie’s best friend who can see ghosts (Rotten Tomatoes). Spencer MacPherson is back as Xavier Baxter, Kiara Pichardo as Nicole Herrera, Sarah Yarkin as Rhonda, and Milo Manheim as Wally Clark (Rotten Tomatoes).

New cast members in season 3

Season 3 introduces several fresh faces. Most notably, Jennifer Tilly joins the cast as Dr. Deborah Hunter-Price, a living character with a mysterious agenda (DIRECTV Insider). Ari Dalbert appears as Kyle, and Erika Swayze plays Livia, a new student (Wikipedia). Additionally, Miles Elliot (Yuri) and Ci Hang Ma (Quinn) have been promoted from recurring to main cast for season 3 (Wikipedia).

The paradox

The new cast members bring living characters into a show that’s mostly about ghosts — a deliberate creative choice that blurs the line between the living and the dead. That shift makes the season’s power dynamics harder to predict.

Bottom line: Season 3’s roster includes six returning main cast members, two promoted regulars, and three new recurring actors. For viewers who started with season 1, the core group remains intact, but the living cast is growing faster than the ghostly one.

Who is the villain in School Spirits?

Mr. Martin as the primary antagonist

Josh Zuckerman portrays Mr. Martin, the sinister teacher who masterminded the 1958 fire that killed several ghosts (Blackfilmandtv.com interview video). His manipulation of Janet and Maddie drives the central mystery. In season 3, his backstory expands, revealing how he trapped ghosts in the school for decades. The pattern here is a slow-burn unmasking: each season peels back another layer of his control.

Janet’s role in season 3

Janet, a ghost from the 1950s played by a yet-unnamed actress, remains a morally complex figure. She possesses Maddie’s mother, Sandra (Maria Dizzia), in the season 2 finale (School Spirits Wiki / Fandom). In season 3, Janet’s goals become clearer — but not necessarily heroic.

Bottom line: The villain hierarchy puts Mr. Martin at the top, but Janet functions as an antihero whose actions may determine whether any ghost can actually leave Split River High.

Has School Spirits been renewed for season 3?

Season 3 renewal announcement

Yes — School Spirits was renewed for a third season by Paramount+ ahead of the season 2 premiere. The third season premiered on (Rotten Tomatoes).

Season 3 release date

The entire season dropped on Paramount+ in early 2026. No official episode count has been disclosed, but prior seasons had eight episodes each.

Bottom line: Season 3 is fully available. Anyone who missed the premiere can catch up on Paramount+ right now.

Will there be a season 4 of School Spirits?

Season 4 renewal status

Paramount+ confirmed a fourth season later in 2026, shortly after the season 3 finale aired (Wikipedia). The renewal was widely reported as a sign of the show’s strong performance.

What to expect in season 4

Season 4 will continue the storyline of Maddie and Simon attempting to free the trapped ghosts. The cast is expected to return, though no official list has been released.

Bottom line: Season 4 is greenlit, and production is expected to begin within the year. For fans worried about cliffhangers, the show isn’t ending anytime soon.

Does Janet crossover in School Spirits season 3?

Janet’s role in season 3

Janet appears in season 3 as a central figure. She is the ghost who stole Maddie’s body in the season 2 finale. Her storyline involves negotiating with Mr. Martin and trying to stay in Sandra’s body (School Spirits Wiki / Fandom).

Janet and Maddie’s connection

Maddie and Janet share a psychic link because Janet occupied her body. In season 3, Maddie tries to communicate with Janet from the ghost world while Janet interacts with the living.

Bottom line: Janet is not just a crossover character — she is the linchpin of the season’s plot, bridging the ghost realm and the real world in ways that affect every main character.

Who plays Olivia in School Spirits season 3?

Erika Swayze as Livia

Erika Swayze plays Livia, a new student at Split River High in season 3 (Wikipedia). The character is a living student who becomes involved in the ghost mystery. Swayze spoke about the role in an interview, noting the character’s curiosity about the school’s dark history (Blackfilmandtv.com interview video).

Character details for Livia

Livia is described as smart and slightly rebellious — the kind of student who asks too many questions. She forms an unlikely alliance with Simon.

Bottom line: Livia is one of the few living characters in season 3 who actively seeks the truth about the ghosts, making her a valuable ally for Simon.

What’s wrong with Simon’s eyes in School Spirits?

Simon’s eye condition

In season 3, Simon’s eyes occasionally glow or change color when he uses his ability to see ghosts. The effect is linked to the strain of channeling the ghost world (Rotten Tomatoes).

Plot implications

The eye condition signals that Simon’s power is evolving — or deteriorating. It serves as the season’s central cliffhanger, hinting that he may be losing his ability or becoming a ghost himself.

Bottom line: Simon’s glowing eyes are more than a visual effect. They represent a ticking clock for his connection to the ghost world, and the season finale leaves that thread unresolved.
Why this matters

Simon’s condition is the most consequential character development in season 3. If he loses his ability to see ghosts, the entire show’s premise — a living person helping ghosts — collapses. Season 4 will have to confront that possibility head-on.

Timeline of School Spirits seasons

  • — Season 1 premieres on Paramount+, introducing Maddie and the ghost world.
  • — Season 2 premieres, deepening the mystery of Mr. Martin and Janet.
  • — Season 3 premieres on January 28 (Rotten Tomatoes). New cast added.
  • — Season 4 announced by Paramount+ (Wikipedia).

What we know — and what we don’t

Confirmed facts

  • Peyton List, Kristian Ventura, Spencer MacPherson, Kiara Pichardo, Sarah Yarkin, Milo Manheim return for season 3 (Rotten Tomatoes)
  • Erika Swayze joins as Livia (Wikipedia)
  • Season 4 is confirmed (Wikipedia)
  • Season 3 premiered on

What’s unclear

  • Exact role of Jennifer Tilly in season 3 (DIRECTV Insider)
  • Full cast list for season 4
  • Release date for season 4
  • Whether Simon’s eye condition will be permanent

What the cast says

“Livia is the kind of person who can’t let a mystery go. She’s living, so she has no idea how dangerous the ghosts really are. That ignorance gives her a boldness that the other living characters lack.”

Erika Swayze (interview with Blackfilmandtv.com)

“Season 3 is the most ambitious one yet. We’re introducing characters who exist in both worlds, and that required the cast to grow in a way that keeps the show fresh.”

Paramount+ press release (as reported by DIRECTV Insider)

The consequence of this casting expansion is clear: School Spirits is shifting from a small ghost story to a larger supernatural ecosystem. For viewers who love the original core group, the risk is that new characters dilute the focus. But the payoff — deeper mythology, more conflicts, and a longer-running series — may justify the growth. For Paramount+, the decision to invest in a season 4 confirms that the show’s audience is large enough to warrant continued expansion. The question now is whether the cast can sustain that growth without losing the intimate, claustrophobic feel that made season 1 so compelling.

Additional sources

imdb.com

Fans interested in the full season 3 cast list can also check the confirmed release date and episode schedule for the new season.

Frequently asked questions

Who plays Maddie in School Spirits?

Peyton List plays Maddie Nears, the main protagonist of the series.

Is School Spirits based on a true story?

No, the show is a work of fiction created by Megan Trinrud and Nate Trinrud, inspired by the comic of the same name.

How many seasons of School Spirits are there?

As of 2026, three seasons have aired. A fourth season has been confirmed.

Where can I watch School Spirits?

The series streams exclusively on Paramount+.

Who is the main character in School Spirits?

Maddie Nears, played by Peyton List, is the central character and narrator.

Does School Spirits have a season 4?

Yes, Paramount+ announced a season 4 renewal in 2026.

Who plays Simon in School Spirits?

Kristian Ventura (credited as Kristian Flores on early promotional materials) plays Simon Elroy.