A significant difference between grade school and high school is the level of independence students enjoy. On the whole, high school students enjoy more freedom. High school students in good academic standing can choose their courses and create their own schedule of classes as long as they fulfill required courses and prerequisites. Grade school students, on the other hand, do not get to choose their class schedules. Also, some high schools allow students an open-lunch period, during which time they may depart campus. Some high school also implement alternative physical education programs, which allow students opportunities to fulfill physical education requirements at a nearby gym or fitness center, and diversified occupational education programs, which allow students to leave school early or come in late if employed. The independence accorded to high school students is possible because many of them have drivers' licenses. These freedoms help to prepare students for adulthood, where they are expected to be self-reliant and responsible.
Perhaps as a result of increasing independence, high school students tend to experience more academic struggles than grade school students. However, academic struggles may also be, in part, due to increased expectations and demands made of high school students. According to the a study in the "Journal of Educational Research," high-achieving students experience, for the first time, low grades upon entering high school. Also, the number of course failures at the ninth grade level exceeds all other grade levels, which perhaps suggests students are not prepared for the transition to more rigorous academic standards in high school. Overall, students -- whether high-, middle- or low-achieving -- experience a decrease in achievement as they transition from grade school to high school.
Academic struggles are not the only problem that markedly distinguishes high school and grade school. According to the National Middle School Association, behavior problems also spike at the secondary level. High school students are more likely to be suspended or expelled than grade school students. High schools also witness an increase in instances of violence and crime on campus, and a greater percentage of students experiment with drugs and alcohol. Truancy and tardiness also more problematic at the high school level, perhaps because students become responsible for transporting themselves to and from school.
Another difference between grade school and high school is the impact of social pressures. Grade school students do experience social pressures but not as severely and detrimentally as high school students do. According to a study by School Psychology International, graduating eighth graders anticipate academic ability to be the biggest challenge to success in high school, but these same students, once in high school, cited time management, ability to stay on task, social skills and behavior as factors in success. An article in "Sociology of Education" explains that once students enter high school, concerns about bullying, getting lost and making friends override concerns about grades and academic performance. This may be because students are entering the teenage years, where they are more insecure and self-conscious about social opinions.