Actor Allusion: Stella Yamada is first shown in detention, just like another Hayley Kiyoko character. She also starts a revolution, the same as that character. (Admittedly a less violent one than her Wizards counterpart had in mind.)
Adam Hicks likes to rap in real life.
Fake American: Naomi Scott, a British actress, here portrays an Indian-American high school student.
Actually, Naomi Scott is both British AND Indian, which explains the accent if you heard her speak in real life.
Lieutenant Castillo is the principal trying to shut them down from making money from a beverage company coming in and monopolizing the school's drink choices - now, where have we seen that before?