Your son will spend a lot of time working toward academic success at his top-rated high school. But, he’s also seeking social acceptance and trying to navigate teenage life while he readies for college. How much of his efforts will matter once he graduates and moves on? Here, you’ll find some insight for your teen to help him prioritize his last years in high school.

After High School, What Aspects of Schooling Matter?

Work Ethic

Your teen develops work habits in high school that he will likely carry over into his post-secondary education. It’s crucial that he masters an excellent work ethic during this time so he can tackle more difficult subject matter and extensive workloads in college. People who worked hard and developed their skills as young adults were more successful than their peers, proving high school skills set the tone for future behaviors.

Subject Interest

Attending a top-rated high school will allow your son to explore many subjects to help him find a potential career path. Encourage him to research various interests today so he can focus on a certain industry or profession as he moves on to post-secondary schooling.

Social Choices

There are two types of popularity — perceived and sociometric. Perceived popularity considers how many people appear to like you while sociometric popularity gauges how genuinely well-liked a person is. Your son should aim for the latter. While having many people know his name for superficial reasons may seem fun, it’s better to be known for being kind and trustworthy. These individuals have better support systems as they move on from top-rated high schools to leading colleges, where they’ll forge lifelong friendships.

Saint Joseph High School in Metuchen, NJ, is a top-rated high school that offers a well-rounded education to local boys. Students there learn academic skills as well as the importance of respect and community. To learn about their philosophy on creating lifelong learners, call (732) 549-7600. Visit the website for information on their academic areas from theology and world languages to math and science.