What makes a good teacher? Acute intelligence? A gentle disposition? A callous and ignorant disregard for student’s lives? The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter franchise attracts professors of all kinds to its hallowed halls. Some of these professors achieved legend status for their mastery of craft and teaching ability, while others met gruesome deaths for their treachery. One thing is undeniable: the teaching staff at Hogwarts is one of the most exciting casts of characters in Harry Potter.

Because these professors represent such a wide range of possible mentors and human beings, this list will be arranged according to each instructor’s impact and kindness (or lack thereof). And although Professor Dumbledore is a shrewd and competent mentor, he will be excluded from the list for not doing much traditional teaching in the runtime of these films. Here are the best Hogwarts professors in the Harry Potter movies, ranked.

Related: Daniel Radcliffe 'is Not Interested' in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: 'I Made It Out'

11 Dolores Umbridge

umbridge
Warner Bros. Pictures

Not only is Professor Umbridge one of the most evil characters in a movie, her lessons were never shown to contain any substantive information for students to learn about. As a mentor, her obligation to try and enrich her students’ lives is completely unrealized, and her motivations are frequently a direct counter to her role. A mean-spirited, authoritarian leader, Umbridge has absolutely no redeeming qualities.

10 Gilderoy Lockhart

lockheart
Warner Bros. Pictures

The only reason Gilderoy Lockhart escapes the worst ranking among his peers is the pervasive ignorance that carries him from moment to moment, both before and after suffering from memory loss. One gets the sense that Lockhart may have escaped a fate of deep mediocrity by choosing a different profession or finding where his talents beyond deception may have been. And despite the cruel trick of irony that becomes his downfall, everyone deserves unbroken access to their own minds — yes, Lockhart deserved better.

9 Barty Crouch Jr.

crouch jr
Warner Bros. Pictures

The false Professor Moody may have been too good at his impersonation act because he managed to impart some genuine lessons of worth on the students of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Though much of his instruction seemed to focus on the dark arts rather than defense, the lessons that Hogwarts students learned from Crouch would become invaluable when Unforgivable Curses became commonplace. As compelling as he was dangerous, Barty Crouch Jr.’s evil wasn’t the institutional evil of Umbridge or the beguiled ignorance of Lockheart — and as an instructor, he managed to outpace them both.

8 Horace Slughorn

slughorn
Warner Bros. Pictures

Slughorn’s role in the Harry Potter world came late in the series, and when it did, there wasn’t too much to be said for his characterization. A kind but cowardly man, Slughorn was a competent enough teacher even if his shortcomings did come at the expense of plot development. However, he managed to form an amicable relationship with Harry and would step into a period of bravery after being challenged by both Dumbledore and Harry.

7 Pomona Sprout

professor-sprout-harry-potter
Warner Bros. Pictures

Pomona Sprout is barely seen across the movies, which is hilariously reflected by the actress Miriam Margoyles' willing ignorance towards the Harry Potter story. A master botanist and herbologist, her knowledge of magical plants became important to the story more than once, between the devil's snare, mandrakes, and gillyweed. Her relationship with Neville is tragically unexplored, as the two grew to form an adorable master-student duo.

6 Severus Snape

snape
Warner Bros. Pictures

Begrudgingly said, Professor Snape’s Potions class was actually very informative, even if Harry and Ron didn’t find any value in his teaching style. His instruction resonated with Hermione and his lessons in Occlumency were conducted in good faith, even if his hateful attitude stifled his potential as a mentor. Arguably the professor with the largest volume of high-stakes tasks in the context of the story, Snape’s story is characterized by moments of proud success and tragic failure.

Related: The Best 21st Century TV Shows and Movies About Witches, So Far

5 Filius Flitwick

professor-flitwick-harry-potter
Warner Bros.

Professor Flitwick, played by the legendary Warwick Davis, underwent a strange physical transformation between the second and third films. Between teaching the highly versatile art of charms and the Hogwarts choir, Professor Flitwick has a broad skill set that he contributes to the Hogwarts ecosystem. More than once, the charms and spells taught in Flitwick’s class became important tools that the students would use in their quest against Voldemort and the death eaters.

4 Remus Lupin

professor-lupin-harry-potter
Warner Bros.

David Thewlis made a remarkable performance of Professor Lupin, the teacher that arguably had the greatest impact on Harry through the films. His fascinating plot as a teacher moonlighting as a werewolf and his willing vulnerability with Harry allowed the two to enjoy a healthy relationship through multiple movies. Every unit of Lupin’s short-lived class was met with resounding love from his students, and his instruction would inspire the creation of Dumbledore’s Army two films later.

3 Sybill Trelawney

professor-trelawney-harry-potter
Warner Bros.

Emma Thompson’s portrayal of Professor Trelawney not only brought out the best and most eccentric parts of her character, it would go on to become one of the best performances in the whole series. Her unique expression of mysticism and her hilariously loose grasp on her own prophetic powers are buoyed by Thompson’s resonant earnestness. Watching her get bullied by Professor Umbridge brought out a protective instinct in fans of Trelawney, who deserves nothing but praise and encouragement.

2 Rubeus Hagrid

A scene from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Warner Bros. Pictures

It would be an understatement to say that Hagrid is one of the most legendary characters in the series. Rubeus Hagrid had a deep compassion for all life and a remarkable lack of ego, qualities that almost translated perfectly to the art of teaching. Teacher’s must be able to accumulate and distill knowledge, but more than that, they must be able to connect with their students' hearts. At this, no other Hogwarts professor holds a candle to the gentle-hearted giant.

1 Minerva McGonagall

professor-mcgonagall-harry-potter
Warner Bros.

McGonagall represents an ideal of teaching that outstrips her peers considerably. Strict, firm, with an equal eye for discipline and enrichment, McGonagall commands respect and molds young minds with style. As deputy headmistress, she is a role model for her peers and students alike. Professor McGonagall tolerates no disrespect, imparts great wisdom, and will defend her students to the death — what more could a student ask for?