The protagonist (Ian Archer) and a group of friends (Gabe Forrest, Suki Sato, and CJ Ward) are unwilling students at the institution, with no memory of how they got there.

Prior to the series premiere, a sneak peek of the show was released for free download on the iTunes Store featuring half of the first episode.

[14] Dini speculated that a primary reason for the cancellation was that Tower Prep drew a primarily female viewership, and that Cartoon Network wanted to instead target young male viewers for their merchandising.

[14][15][16] Critics commented on the show's low production values and murky fight scenes, but praised its overall concept, writing, and cast.

[28][29] Brian Lowry of Variety said the show's mysteries might appeal to both children and adults, calling it "a series that points the way toward a best-case scenario" for Cartoon Network's live-action programming.