High school throws adolescents together and demands that they navigate complex social and academic dynamics, all while their bodies and brains are changing dramatically. “As soon as they enter ninth grade, high school students are expected to take a rigorous course load, where their performance can impact college choices; teachers become subject-matter experts who typically instruct students in one class only; and guidance counselors are in short supply,” writes teacher and journalist Carly Berwick. ⁣ ⁣ This challenging dynamic has led to students’ behavioral issues, dropouts, and “major upticks in adolescent mental issues like anxiety and depression,” according to Berwick. On average, more students fail ninth grade than any other year of high school.⁣ ⁣ Yet educators can help freshmen acclimate to high school and succeed through the next four years. Berwick shares a range of strategies from schools that can help ease students’ transition, including: ⁣ ⁣ • Offering opportunities for fr...