Tips and Advice for Incoming High School Freshman

October 21, 2025 byPhoebe Brown

5 min to read

A teenager is smiling and listening to headphones on his bed

Students making the transition from middle school to high school may feel nervous and excited at the same time. Going into high school typically marks a time when students become more independent, explore new extracurricular activities, make new friends, and take on more responsibilities. The first year of high school is also a time when academic demands increase for students—and the need to decide on a college or a career is just around the corner.

There are many ways to help incoming high school freshmen succeed and prepare for college or their careers, while also enjoying their high school experiences.

What Is a High School Freshman and Why Does Ninth Grade Matter?

A freshman is a student who is in the ninth grade, typically the first year in high school. Ninth grade can be one of the most critical years for students in high school.

Research shows that the grades a student gets in ninth grade can be more predictive than standardized test scores when it comes to a students’ academic success in high school, determining that most students participating in the study had the same grades and GPAs in both ninth and eleventh grades.

What Can Parents Do to Help their Child Succeed at the Start of High School?

Families can play an important role in a student’s freshman year, especially because going from middle school to high school can be a big adjustment.

Parents who want to help their new high school student succeed can try:

Making sure their student gets to school early and with enough time to feel prepared for the day instead of rushed

Signing up for school text alerts (if available) to stay up to date on upcoming events and information

Checking the school website and portal regularly for updates and changes to school schedules

Understand the state’s graduation requirements and know where to find the student’s official transcripts

Attending important events such as parent-teacher conferences, school events, and volunteering to help with field trips

Helping their student keep track of assignments and due dates by keeping a calendar of events, due dates, and important information in a shared location

Communicating with their student’s teacher or school counselor to make sure their student is on track

A teenage girl is taking notes while particpating in an online class

Top 5 Tips for Incoming High School Freshman

New high school students may feel a bit overwhelmed, but getting started on the right path early can be easy.

Get Organized Early

On the first day of school, and sometimes during early registration, students get a syllabus for each of their classes outlining all the key dates and important information about exams and major projects.

Students can use a planner or digital calendar to keep track of these dates and set aside time ahead of tests or exams to give themselves time to study before committing to any extracurricular activities. Remember to add school functions, like sports games, dances, and field trips, to the calendar too.

Build Effective Study Habits

Some great foundational advice for high school students is to learn effective study habits and note-taking skills. To become a better note-taker, incoming high school freshmen may want to explore various note-taking methods to find what works best for them. Good notes can make it easier to build good study habits too.

If students develop good study habits as high school freshmen, then they are more likely to become more successful and independent learners. To build these habits in high school, students can:

Establish a distraction-free study zone

Devote a specific time of day to studying

Stay focused to avoid procrastination

Learn how to keep motivated

Keep a routine

Read all the teachers’ feedback on all assignments

Ask questions during class

Ask for help from instructors, counselors, or parents when necessary

Take Ownership of Learning

While families can always be there to help their child, by high school a student should start choosing their electives and extracurricular activities themselves, ensuring they have the time in their schedule to take on extra activities, learning to recognize burnout, and speaking up to their teachers themselves if they need additional help. Students should be aware of their own strengths and weaknesses and work with their teachers, families, and school counselors to learn strategies to help overcome obstacles that can get in the way of learning.

An online school high school freshman taking notes.

Connect with Teachers and Ask Questions

In high school, students are learning to be more independent, which means they need to take action for themselves when they notice they are falling behind their own expectations in class. But even outside of keeping up their grades, reaching out to teachers has many additional benefits, including:

Getting additional assistance on assignments

Developing confidence and people skills

Building connections they can use later when looking for letters of recommendation

Discovering new learning resources such as peer tutors, school counselors, or personalized learning plans

Get Involved Outside the Classroom

High school is about more than academics. It’s also about the students learning more about themselves. There are several opportunities for students to explore their interests, hobbies, and social lives through:

Attending school events, such as field trips or dances

Exploring a passion such as learning an instrument, trying a new sport, taking up an art class

Joining a school club like chess club, writing club, or eSports teams

Finding an internship or volunteering in the community

Checking the school’s website for upcoming events or activities

Find Success and Make It Last by Attending High School Online

Going into high school is an exciting time with new challenges. While it may seem like a lot to handle at first, let these tips for incoming freshman help you and your student feel ready for the next chapter and have a strong school year.

If you’re interested in trying virtual school but don’t know where to start, check out the Connections Academy® eGuide for more information.