On their first day at Highlands Academy of the Arts, the gang gets in trouble for disobeying the strict curriculum. As punishment, they're sent to work at Moody's Sweet Shop where they meet Sarah and form "The Wannabes."
Egos collide when the gang can't agree on which song to sing. Mr. Moody teaches them that everyone must work together to be successful.
The gang thinks quitting school will expedite their rise to stardom. Mr. Moody puts them through their paces, teaching them that an education is more important than fly-by-night fame and money.
Mr. Moody hosts to video game competition similar to Guitar Hero called "Beasts of Rock." The boys enter the contest and revel in their newfound rock 'n roll personae, an must rely on Sarah to save the day. While Mr. Moody's Sweetshop is in the middle of this musical melee, Mariah is determined to prove to Shaylen that her personality is more influential than her beauty.
After watching a video about global warming Mariah becomes an environmental activist. When she organizes a student revolt against Mr. Pesckow's unfriendly ecological policies, reporters visit Mariah at the sweet shop to do a story on her. Things take a dramatic turn when they report on Mr. Moody's wastefulness instead. To make matters worse for Mr. Moody, Sarah has a curious secret admirer which he does not approve of.
Drew's ego becomes unbearable when he gets a part in a commercial. He decides to leave the band, but his star falls as quickly as it rose. Meanwhile Mariah, who's watching Mr. Pesckow's phones, misplaces his niece's pet hamster and asks Andrew, Shaylen and Sarah to help track it down.
A girl becomes enamored with Drew after overhearing him talk in a Scottish accent. She becomes obsessed with him. After he breaks up with her, she's determined to reveal The Wannabes secret identity. Meanwhile, Mr. Moody is swamped with a convention of elderly women called "The Sunshine Ladies" and Sarah reminisces with a few former singers.
Worried she'll fail her dance final, Shaylen gets a tutor, who happens to be Andrew dressed as his alter-ego, "Santiago." And when Sarah helps Alan find his iPod, she uses her detective skills to track down her dad's recipe thief.
Sarah gets accepted into the Highlands Academy "Prep Program" as a dance major. After Mr. Moody gives her a new cell phone, she quickly gets into trouble with Mr. Pesckow and causes problems for The Wannabes. She has a lot to learn in staying out of trouble and fitting in with The Wannabes at school.
Alan decides to run for class president but the popularity goes to his head and he loses focus on what's really important for the school causing a rift between him and Shaylen. Sarah comes up with an idea to help feed homeless and struggles with not getting recognition from the others.
An alumnus of Highlands Academy returns to give a sizable endowment to the school during the annual freshman play but when her prized jewels go missing, the gang must find the thief before Mr. Pesckow gives them all a life sentence to detention.
The gang gets trapped in the school after helping Andrew film a horror movie for a short film contest and life begins to imitate art as the gang gets "scared straight."
Andrew suspects that there's a secret society within the walls of Highlands Academy. He and the gang investigate and discover an underground dance club run by Alan. Alan explains that it's reserved for the best dancers in the school and if the gang wants to join, they have to challenge and beat one of the club's dance crews. Sarah experiences receiving special attention as Mr. Moody is called to the school cafeteria to help out.
When Highlands is forced to host a nearby sports academy, the boys challenge them to a basketball game.
A wealthy customer rents out Moody's Sweet Shop for her son's Australian-themed birthday party, forcing the gang to dress up and entertain the unentertainable kid.
The Spring Dance has arrived and Andrew's been put in charge. While the gang worries about who they are going to take to the dance, real problems arise when Andrew forgets to book a band. Now it is up to The Wannabes to save the dance.
The gang believes that their dreams have come true when a local club owner asks them to perform at his club across town.
After Sarah is quarantined for having a mysterious illness, the only thing she can do is watch television. She begins to see her friends' lives play out in several television genres, including Drew's newfound crush on Shaylen.
After pulling a prank on Andrew, a full-blown prank war is ignited. He and Sarah join forces to get back at the guys. Meanwhile, Mariah and Shaylen get in on the pranks after both lie about auditioning for the school play.
Alan decides to spend the day at the carnival instead of writing his sonata. Out of time, Alan decides to steal an obscure piece off the Internet to turn in. Meanwhile, trouble arises on Sarah's first date.
Alan and the gang reminisce over their time together at Highlands the night before a hearing that just may keep Alan in school.
After a petting zoo runs wild in the mall, trapping the gang in the sweet shop, the gang must deal with their fears, having fantasies about their futures.
When a video of the kids performing is accidentally uploaded to the web, their secret is jeopardized. Mr. Pesckow is on the lookout for the Highlands students he believes are in the video. Before the gang decides to come clean, several doppelganger groups appear.
The gang argues over who is coolest of them all. They use the footage from their concert to prove it.
In an homage to classic and current musicals, the gang deals with the drudgery of detention through music and dance along with fellow student detainees.
The detention drama gets ramped up as Mr. Pesckow relieves our gang from their service at Mr. Moody's. They are forced to find a way back into his "bad" graces so The Wannabes as a group and can continue to perform at Mr. Moody's.