What High School Students Should Do This Summer to Get Ahead
Summer break is a chance for high school students to relax, recharge, and enjoy a well deserved break from classes. However, summer can also be one of the most valuable opportunities to build skills, strengthen academic foundations, and prepare for future success.
The students who make the biggest gains over the summer are not necessarily the ones spending hours studying every day. Instead, they are the students who use a small portion of their time intentionally while still enjoying everything summer has to offer.
Whether a student is entering ninth grade or preparing for senior year, here are some of the best ways to get ahead this summer.
Strengthen Weak Academic Areas
Every student has subjects that come more naturally and subjects that require more effort.
Summer is the perfect time to address areas of weakness without the pressure of homework, quizzes, and upcoming exams.
Ask questions such as:
Which classes felt most difficult this year?
Were there concepts that never fully clicked?
Which subjects caused the most stress?
Filling learning gaps during the summer often makes future coursework significantly easier.
Students who strengthen foundational skills now spend less time catching up during the school year.
Read More Than You Are Required To
Reading remains one of the most effective ways to improve academic performance.
Students who read regularly often strengthen:
Vocabulary
Reading comprehension
Writing skills
Critical thinking
Focus and concentration
The best part is that students do not have to limit themselves to assigned reading.
Books, biographies, nonfiction, articles, and even industry specific publications can all help develop valuable skills.
Reading consistently throughout the summer can provide benefits that extend across nearly every subject.
Prepare for Challenging Courses
Students taking Honors, Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, or advanced math and science courses can benefit from previewing upcoming material.
This does not mean completing an entire textbook over the summer.
Instead, students can:
Review prerequisite concepts
Learn key vocabulary
Become familiar with major topics
Strengthen foundational skills
Even a basic introduction can reduce anxiety and improve confidence when school begins.
Develop Better Study Habits
Many students focus exclusively on content knowledge while overlooking the importance of study skills.
Strong study habits often separate successful students from those who struggle despite having similar abilities.
Summer is a great time to practice:
Time management
Note taking
Organization
Test preparation strategies
Goal setting
These skills can improve performance across every class.
Explore Career Interests
High school is an excellent time to begin exploring potential career paths.
Students can use summer to:
Research professions
Interview professionals
Shadow someone in a career field
Attend workshops
Participate in enrichment programs
Explore personal interests
The goal is not to decide on a lifelong career immediately.
The goal is simply to gain exposure to different opportunities and learn more about personal strengths and interests.
Gain Real World Experience
Summer offers opportunities to build skills that extend beyond the classroom.
Students may benefit from:
Part time jobs
Volunteer work
Internships
Community involvement
Leadership opportunities
These experiences can help students develop responsibility, communication skills, teamwork, and confidence.
They can also strengthen future college and scholarship applications.
Begin Thinking About College Early
Students do not need to wait until senior year to think about college planning.
Summer is a great time to:
Research colleges
Visit campuses
Explore academic programs
Learn about admissions requirements
Understand scholarship opportunities
Students who begin planning earlier often feel less overwhelmed during the college application process.
Prepare for SAT and ACT Exams
Students planning to take college entrance exams should consider beginning preparation well before test dates.
Summer allows students to:
Take practice exams
Identify weak areas
Review key concepts
Develop testing strategies
Starting early often reduces stress and leads to more effective preparation.
Build Healthy Habits
Academic success depends heavily on physical and mental wellbeing.
Students should use the summer to establish routines that support long term success, including:
Consistent sleep schedules
Regular exercise
Healthy nutrition
Effective stress management
Balanced screen time habits
These habits can improve focus, energy, and overall academic performance.
Set Goals for the Upcoming School Year
Students who enter the school year with clear goals often have greater motivation and direction.
Consider setting goals related to:
Grades
Extracurricular involvement
Leadership opportunities
College preparation
Personal growth
Goals provide a roadmap and help students stay focused throughout the year.
Avoid the Summer Slide
One of the biggest mistakes students make is completely disengaging from academics for several months.
While rest is important, going an entire summer without reading, practicing math, or engaging in learning can lead to lost skills and reduced confidence.
A small amount of consistent academic engagement can help students maintain momentum and return to school ready to succeed.
The Bottom Line
Summer does not need to be filled with nonstop studying to be productive.
The most successful students find balance. They enjoy their summer while also investing time in personal growth, academic preparation, and skill development.
By strengthening weak areas, reading regularly, exploring future opportunities, and building strong habits, high school students can position themselves for a successful school year and create opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.
The students who get ahead during the summer are not necessarily working harder than everyone else. They are simply using their time with purpose.
