Class is in session, and this week it's a lesson in escapism.
That's your only hint.
Go into this series blind.
Gakkougurashi! is fun. That's it. If you don't want to be spoiled any further I would suggest not to read anything else about this series. Don't look at the synopsis, ignore the rest of this review, and ignore everyone else's reviews. You can't get into Gakkougurashi! and talk about it without ruining the aspect that makes it fun to watch without any idea of what you're getting yourself into.
The story is serviceable for what it is, and while it's not mindblowing, I found it entertaining and things I had questioned and found too convenient were at the very least touched on and given a reason for existing. Enough for me to suspend my disbelief. The story isn't exactly chronologically told, but you're kept thoroughly grounded with a sense of time as the series goes on.
The art is very moe coming from Lerche, enough so that you'd be forgiven for thinking at first this could have been the work of Doga Kobo, if not for the choice of colors and backgrounds. The OP gradually changes throughout the series and it's fun to see the visual aspect slowly develop with the story. There's a contrast of art styles that was interesting to look at. I don't particularly remember the animation impressing me at any point, but it does it's job and it's never bad enough to take you out of the show.
I really liked the VAs for Gakkougurashi! This is the first time I had actually thought I should start following a seiyū for their work. As someone that has previously only paid attention to studios that I enjoyed, this may help me decide if something is worth watching in the future. The music range is quite broad and each song suits the emotion the series is trying to capture at the time.
The characters are the weakest part of the series, and it rides too heavily on the protagonist for the other characters' developments, backstories, and personalities to be interesting. Their developments almost serve as filler in between the main protagonists developments.
I enjoyed Gakkougurashi!, but felt it lacked something or perhaps was a little too idyllic at points or felt the plot rushed a lot. While the idea is interesting and it would be fun to dive another level deeper into the plot, I don't think it would be able to hold my attention for another cour.