Tips for Starting High School

Starting high school is an exciting time in a student’s life. The first few weeks of any school year are important, but the first few weeks of freshman year set the tone for the next four years. 

We’ve put together 12 tips for starting high school that will help you have a successful, fun, and memorable year. This is a big transition, and you might have to make some changes and get outside your comfort zone, but it will be worth it. 

Check out our advice for incoming freshmen in high school below.

Tips for Starting High School

Starting high school is a milestone in every teenager’s life. It’s often met with mixed emotions—nervousness and excitement are often at odds with each other. People often look back on high school and describe it as the best four years of their life. Others graduate and don’t look back. 

Whether you’re excited about going to a new school, having the opportunity to take different classes, or having more extracurricular activities to choose from, lean into that excitement! It will help you build and maintain motivation. Here are some tips for staying motivated in high school that may be helpful to you as you work toward graduation.

The first week of school is crucial to starting the year off on a good note. Prepare for classes ahead of your first day and make sure you have all the supplies you need for each class.

Label things like binders, folders, and notebooks ahead of time. Pack your backpack and make sure you have enough pens, pencils, highlighters, etc. Being able to grab your backpack and just walk out the door in the morning will take some of the stress out of your first day. 

If you are able to tour your school over the summer, it will streamline your first day. Be sure to locate things like your locker (make sure the combination works!), the cafeteria, your classrooms, and pick-up/drop-off locations.

Walking your class schedule will also give you an idea of how long it will take you to get from class to class. It’ll help you determine when you’ll have time to stop by your locker or chat with friends between classes.

One of the simplest ways you can reduce your stress and increase your happiness is to create before- and after-school routines. Making decisions is one thing you have to do every single day, and routines are basically making decisions ahead of time so you don’t have to make them on the spot. 

A morning routine is helpful because it prevents you from having to make choices first thing in the morning. Similarly, an after-school routine makes it easier to get through some of your must-dos after a long day in class. 

Teachers are your greatest resources, advocates, and cheerleaders. Building strong, trusting relationships with your teachers is a great way to ensure you have support throughout high school.

During your first week, introduce yourself to your teacher. If you ever find yourself struggling in class, reach out to them to see if you can get some extra help or extra credit. Always be respectful, listen carefully, and participate in class. 

One of the biggest differences between middle school and high school is the variety of classes offered. In high school, you’ll have more opportunities to explore your interests and customize your course schedule. 

There are often more elective options, which include things like home economics, woodshop, and foreign languages; Advanced Placement (AP) courses; and dual enrollment classes. AP courses and dual enrollment classes allow you to earn college credit while in high school, and they usually aren’t available until your junior or senior year, but you can start planning ahead as a freshman. 

However, starting your first year, you’ll be able to explore electives. If you aren’t sure which would be the best electives to take in high school, check out our blog post on this topic. 

Another change you’ll notice in high school is the amount of writing you’ll do. You’ll write more papers and essays. Writing and communication skills are imperative for high school, college, and beyond.

Our blog on writing tips for high school students provides some helpful advice, including:

1. Using a grammar checker
2. Learning the rules of grammar
3. Keeping a list of your most-common mistakes
4. Practicing daily
   
   

Whether you’re looking to pad your resume for college or just interested in having things to do outside of school, extracurricular activities are a fun way to accomplish either of these things. See what your high school has to offer and sign up for a few things. And just because you did something your freshman year doesn’t mean you have to do it all four years of high school. Here are just a few examples of extracurriculars:

1. Sports (football, basketball, soccer, track and field, etc.)
2. Beta Club
3. Honors Society
4. Forensics Team
5. Theatre
6. Book Club
7. School Newspaper
8. Marching Band and Color Guard
   
   

Did you know that teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep per night for their well-being? You go through so many changes from the ages of 13 to 18, and sleep is how your body rests and recharges from the constant growth and development. 

Getting enough sleep is one of the most basic acts of self care you can do, but it’s one of the most important. Stress management is also crucial to self care, and it can actually help you sleep better. Our blog on stress management for high school students outlines some strategies to help you keep stress and anxiety at bay while in school. 

Depending on where you go to school, you may or may not be learning alongside your friends from middle school. If you do end up going to the same school as your established friends, continue to enjoy their companionship and bond through the shared experience. 

You’re also bound to meet new people, so be open to making new friends and making memories together. 

While learning should be your focus, make sure you leave room for having fun. You’ll only be a teenager once, and the memories you make in high school will last forever. 

High School at The American Academy 

The American Academy is an accredited online high school that offers both a full diploma program and individual courses. 

Whether you’re an incoming freshman or want to transfer part way through your education, you can earn your high school diploma online through The American Academy. 

For students who just want to supplement their high school education or need to make up classes, we also offer individual courses that can be taken online any time.