What grade is a sophomore?

In the K-12 system, a student's sophomore year is his or her 10th grade year in school. In a traditional high school structure, it is the second year of high school, after freshman year and just before the junior year.

A typical sophomore begins to take more college preparatory courses that set the stage for successful college applications that are filled out in the junior and senior years. Practice SAT, or PSAT tests, are commonly taken during the sophomore year. Some 10th grade students also begin volunteering, working and taking on out-of-class responsibilities to build their resumes and gain practical life experience as they build toward the college transition.