Chad Danforth is Troy Bolton’s best friend. They have known each other since preschool and are like brothers. When Gabriella comes to East High, Chad becomes close to her and her best friend, Taylor McKessie, who eventually becomes his girlfriend. Throughout high school, Chad faces many different conflicts with Troy and thanks to his friends is able to work them out and strengthen his relationship with Troy. Â
In HSM 1, Chad and Troy are known for being the stars of the basketball team. He likes this and when Troy gets involved with singing with Gabriella, Chad and Taylor make a sneaky plan to split them up. Chad hopes that Troy will focus on basketball and his teammates instead of singing and Gabriella. Unfortunately, Troy becomes miserable because Gabriella won’t talk to him. Chad realizes that his plan went terribly wrong, and works to get Troy back with Gabriella because he knows that this is what needs to happen in order for Troy to be his happy, normal self. In the end, Taylor and Chad are able to mend Troy and Gabriella’s relationship. Chad and Troy go off to win the basketball championship.
The summer before his senior year Chad faces a whole new challenge. Troy becomes very worried about college and he starts to become a new person when he is given some great opportunities. Chad and the others all realize this before Troy does and Troy is offended when Chad confronts him. Troy finally comes around and realizes that Chad was right all along. Troy apologizes to everyone and his relationship with Chad is strengthened.
SENIOR YEAR!! Chad likes to be the guy that seems relaxed and easy-going all the time.  However, Chad’s last year at East High presents itself with some difficult situations and decisions. College is just around the corner and when Troy decides to go to UCLA, after he and Chad had been planning on playing basketball together at the University of Albuquerque, Chad doesn’t know what is going to happen. When he accepts that his relationship with Troy will never change, he is overall excited for what their futures will bring.