Jocks and Preppies who play on the school's moderately successful sports teams socialize. The school's rich ethnic diversity further blurs the groupings. One student notes that the senior class portrait is a study in segregation with blacks in one cluster, whites in another and Asians in another. The parking lot looked just as segregated last year, students says. This year, though, students must park in assigned spaces.
Counselors work with English and social studies teachers to identify troubled students.
These are often a cry for help. Most students make friends and join groups in more unconventional, ageless ways. Common bonds may range from step dancing to shared struggles in honors chemistry. Most of them understand they are typecast based on whom they call their closest friends. For the most part, they keep their hair short and spiked, wear designer clothing and in some cases sport sideburns.