Tips to Help Freshmen Start High School Strong

August 2, 2023 byElizabeth Preston

7 min to read

A teenager is smiling and listening to headphones on his bed

Whether students attend a brick-and-mortar school or an online school, making the transition from middle school to high school can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Going into high school marks a time when students become more independent, explore new extracurricular activities, make new friends, and take on new responsibilities. It is also a time when academic demands are increasingly placed upon students—and with college just around the corner, the stakes can feel quite high.

Fortunately, there are many ways to help high school freshmen succeed, prepare for college and their careers, and enjoy their high school experiences. Here is a guide for going into high school as well as some of the best high school freshmen tips.

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

A freshman is a student who is in the ninth grade—their first year in high school. Ninth grade can be one of the most critical years for students in high school, partly because research finds that high school freshman grades are more predictive than standardized test scores of students’ academic success in high school and of their college enrollments.

So, if students earn As and Bs in ninth grade, then they are more likely to continue to succeed in high school, enroll in college, and continue into their second year of college than students who earn poor grades in ninth grade. This is not to say that ninth grade is wholly predictive of what a student can achieve. Indeed, sometimes students make mistakes, but they can work hard to overcome them. However, this research does underscore the importance of the ninth grade.

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

High School Freshman Tips

Since ninth grade is so academically pivotal, it’s important that students transition as smoothly as possible into high school to set a good foundation for the rest of their academic career before graduating. Here are some tips for how to start high school online or in person on the right foot.

1. Review (and Understand) the Syllabus

If the teacher provides a course syllabus that outlines what the class will study and how students will be graded, students should review the syllabus for key information such as test dates and due dates for projects or papers, and they should record these dates on a calendar or digital planner. Keep the syllabus handy for reference—or bookmark its location if it’s online.

Learning Coaches can support students by going over the syllabi and deadlines with their students and marking those deadlines in their own calendars as well so that they can provide reminders if necessary.

2. Create a Step-by-Step Plan

Make a plan for accomplishing tasks and meeting deadlines. This is especially helpful where students could find newfound independence and responsibility. For example, for a research paper, the student might need to do some reading, gather research, create an outline, write a rough draft (maybe in sections), create footnotes/bibliography, polish the draft, and proofread. Each of these steps should have a corresponding deadline by which they should be completed to help the student stay on track.

To support their students, Learning Coaches may consider working with their students to develop a plan and identify deadlines for completing each step. It could be easier to identify necessary steps and deadlines by working backwards from the end due date. As students start to get the hang of mapping out their projects and deadlines in this way, then Learning Coaches may try pulling back more and more to let their students take charge and engage in independent learning.

3. Strengthen Note-taking Skills

Note-taking is vital to academic success. To become a better note-taker, high school freshmen may want to explore various note-taking methods to find what works best for them.

Learning Coaches may support their students in becoming better note-takers by showing their students different types of note-taking methods and discussing with them the pros and cons of each.

An online school high school freshman taking notes.

4. Explore and Develop Beneficial Study Habits

If students develop good study habits as high school freshmen, then they are more likely to have a solid foundation and become more successful and independent learners.

To do this, students should consider the following:

Establish a home-learning space that is a distraction-free study zone.
Devote a specific time of day to studying.
Avoid procrastination.
Learn how to keep motivated.
Stay organized.
Read all the teachers’ feedback on all assignments.
Ask questions.
Ask for help from instructors, counselors, or parents if necessary.

Learning Coaches can help support their students by providing them with the necessary materials to be successful, such as a quiet place to study, school supplies, a computer, and any reference materials. They may also help students find a routine that works for their students, such as beginning each study time by reviewing the notes the student took in class that day, which can reinforce learning and provide the opportunity to clarify points as needed.

Communicate with Teachers

Learning Coaches could help their high school student to establish healthy lines of communication with tier teachers by empowering students to reach out to their teachers with questions and work through feelings of self-consciousness that a student may have about asking questions. If they are uncomfortable asking a teacher a question during class, then they can ask the teacher after school, during some down time, or through email.

Take Responsibility and be Accountable

Going into high school means that students are increasingly responsible for their academic performance and should be held accountable for their schoolwork. It can feel scary at first, but students should try to embrace this increase in responsibility as an opportunity to develop competence, independence, and a self-ownership mindset that will serve them well as they move into college and/or their careers.

5. Explore School Events and Extracurriculars

High school is not only about academics. There are several opportunities for students to explore their interests, hobbies, and social lives through school events, extracurricular activities, and internships.

Learning Coaches can help students keep up to date with opportunities by signing up for text alerts (if available), regularly checking their students’ school websites and portals, and attending important events such as parent-teacher conferences.

With so many exciting possibilities, going into high school can present new academic and emotional challenges. It’s difficult to strike the balance at first, but with these tips, students and Learning Coaches can make a strong start to the new school year.