The Sage Informer

People often describe high school as a fresh start filled with new people, new classes, and new opportunities. But with these changes comes a familiar question: Is high school more stressful than middle school? While many students might say yes, the answer is more complicated than it seems.

According to freshman Reese Stiger, the biggest difference in workload between middle school and high school is “having more homework.” 

High school is when your grades really start to matter. Colleges usually focus on the grades you earn in high school rather than middle school, which makes things more serious and puts more pressure on students to perform well. 

With finals right around the corner, that pressure only increases. A low score on a final exam can drop your grade significantly, sometimes from a B to a C, leaving you with barely a passing grade.

Transitioning from middle school to high school isn’t just about academic changes; there are major social challenges as well. There’s a larger student body and students may often see their friends less throughout the day. There can be pressure both to fit in and to stand out. 

However, this social shift hasn’t been negative for everyone. Freshman Callie Gaddis shared that her friends and social life feel “about the same!”

The pressure of high school can also come from anxiety about the future. Students face decisions about taking difficult courses or joining extracurriculars, both of which cut into the time they need for studying and homework. Standardized testing, college preparation, and even part-time jobs add even more responsibilities, ones middle schoolers typically don’t deal with.

According to Stiger, teachers expect more from high school students, noting, “They expect you to have more accountability and take more responsibility for your grades.” Gaddis echoed this statement, saying, “Middle school was way less stressful because it didn’t matter as much as high school.” 

Stiger also offered some advice to students entering high school: “Take school seriously, pay attention to every small detail, and keep up on homework.” High school does need to be taken more seriously, but along with that seriousness often comes more stress. Students must be prepared to handle greater responsibility in order to succeed.

So, is high school more stressful than middle school? For many students, yes, mostly because of grades, more homework, harder tests, and preparing for future colleges or jobs. However, every student’s experience is different, and school can offer students opportunities to manage stress in healthy ways.

Reidyn McLearin, Staff Writer

mclre29@sages.us