25 High School Cliques That Exist Today

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A modern guide on the friend groups you’ll find at schools
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It can be scary to go into high school if you’re imagining a bunch of tightly-knit groups running around and using their social influence to bully others, but that’s luckily not what high school cliques are typically like. The vast majority of the time, a clique is just a close-knit group of friends with something in common. To help break down how cliques work (and what you can do to get in good with them or ignore them entirely), we met with school counselors and life coaches to get the inside scoop on how to navigate cliques in high school.

Section 1 of 5:

Are cliques real?

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  1. When you hear the word “clique” you might imagine groups of kids all dressed the same and eyeing rival cliques from the other side of the cafeteria. While people (especially high school students) do tend to naturally seek out people who are similar to them, cliques are not rigid clubs with defined membership rules or natural rivals. [1]
    • A “clique” is really just a group of friends who have something in common. That commonality can be very important (like a group of LGBTQ students who bond together in a very conservative school) or kind of incidental (like a group of kids who all love anime).

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    Alicia Oglesby is a professional school counselor with 12 years of experience helping students find their place.

    Cyndy Etler is a certified teen life coach with two decades of experience working with adolescents.

    Amanda Diekman is a parenting coach who specializes in working with parents who have children with unique needs.

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Section 2 of 5:

Common Stereotypical Cliques

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  1. 1
    The Jocks You can spot the Jocks by their letterman jackets, jerseys, and obsession with giving one another noogies and slapping their friends with wet towels in the locker room. They’re often popular by default because sports can be a big element of high school society, but they can also be very affable and fun-loving. [2]
    • Jocks get a bad wrap for being bullies. While bullying is a real problem, you shouldn’t assume a Jock is automatically a bad person.
    • A note on the order of the cliques here: While we usually assume cliques are in a fixed hierarchy, these groups aren’t better or worse than one another. The “Jocks,” for example, might be at the top of the food chain at one school, but near the bottom at another. It’s all contextual, and no single group is better or worse than any other.
  2. 2
    The Populars The Populars are an emerging clique that didn’t really exist decades ago. They include the outgoing, attractive, and charismatic kids who don’t necessarily attach themselves to any single activity or identity. They’re well-liked by everyone and tend to have a big impact on a school’s culture. [3]
    • The Populars are often prom kings, prom queens, pep rally leaders, and school presidents. They may play a sport or hang out in a club, but they don’t make it their entire identity.
  3. 3
    The Nerds The Nerds are noted by their lack of physical prowess and their interest in PC gaming, Dungeons & Dragons, robotics club, or some other stereotypically “uncool” activity. Nerds aren’t automatically good students, although they often do just fine in school.
    • Nerds can be the target of bullies, but it’s the 21st century—nerds are cool now. Many nerds have flipped the stereotypes around to own their nerdiness and become respected and admired for being their most authentic selves.
  4. 4
    The Brains These are the academically successful and “cooler" version of the nerds. They’ve got their eyes on Harvard, Yale, or some other Ivy League school, but they’re not associated with any “nerdy” activity. They tend to do a little bit better socially than the Nerds, but they can also be a little more elitist, which doesn’t help their popularity.
  5. 5
    The Good-Ats Good-Ats are a new clique we’ve identified in the past decade or so. These students really excel at something (usually multiple things), and this grants them a special status at the school. Good-Ats tend to be very well-liked and socially flexible, and they can sort of float between groups at will. [4]
    • As an example, a student who plays 3 sports and loves hanging out at ball games is probably a Jock, but a student who is a top-tier quarterback but plays no other sports and hangs out with artsy kids a lot is probably a Good-At.
  6. 6
    The Theater Kids The Theater Kids are pretty easy to spot. They like acting, singing, and performing. They’re often very expressive and friendly, and they tend to do pretty well socially a lot of the time because they tend to be much more inclusive than many other cliques.
    • The Theater Kids are often depicted as not very cool in movies and TV shows, but that really isn’t the case anymore.
  7. 7
    The Stoners The Stoners are spotted by…well, their habit of getting stoned. They may have a little bit of social power and popularity for their ability to get drugs, but it doesn’t tend to be a very sticky or beloved form of popularity.
    • Stoners aren’t bad people, but there are risks to consuming recreational drugs at a young age. You’re still in puberty in high school, and even drugs as socially accepted as marijuana can delay sexual maturity and mess with your long-term growth. [5]
  8. 8
    The Gamers The Gamers are very similar to the Nerds, except they don’t have any of the stereotypical Nerd aesthetics, and they’re typically only interested in video games—not other elements of nerd culture. Popularity-wise, they tend to be enigmas. They can be popular, kind of outcasts, or floaters who move between multiple groups.
    • Gamer cliques often specialize in a single game that can be played over and over again, like Call of Duty or League of Legends.
  9. 9
    The Skaters This is a clique that may be disappearing in certain regions where skateboarding isn’t as popular as it used to be, but these cliques are still community staples in a lot of high schools. Skaters are, as the name implies, into skateboarding! They wear skater brands and skate shoes, and they tend to tilt towards a more rebellious attitude.
    • Skaters are often associated with Stoners, but they actually don’t have anything in common in practice. A lot of professional (and amateur) skaters take pride in being straight edge. [6]
  10. 10
    The Goths/Emos Some schools may even have both Goth and Emo cliques. These two subcultures have enough in common that we’re going to group them together. If they’re wearing black, listening to subversive music, and painting their nails black, they’re probably in the Goth/Emo clique. [7]
    • What’s the difference between Goth and Emo? Both subcultures are byproducts of the Punk movement , but Goth is based on darker themes, more Victorian-inspired fashion, and a heavier emphasis on celebrating the darkness in life. Emo (short for “emotional hardcore”) is more interested in vibrant, expressive, and diverse styles. They’re more likely to wear brighter colors and prioritize emotional sensitivity.
  11. 11
    The Preps The preppy kids are easily spotted by their Ralph Lauren and Lacoste polos, boat shoes, and affluent attitude and style. The Preps tend to get a lot of hate for being privileged or elitist, but it helps to remember that being preppy is mostly an aesthetic choice.
    • The Preps and the Populars are often seen as having a lot of overlap, but this is an older stereotype without much basis in reality these days.
  12. 12
    The Hipsters These are the indie rockers, the underground hip hop fans, the kids who wear winter beanies in the summer, and the students who are always on the cutting edge of fashion, music, and culture. They tend to be very inclusive and often float between groups quite easily.
    • As an organized group, the Hipsters aren’t very cohesive. In fact, members of the Hipsters may not even view themselves as associating with any group at all.
  13. 13
    The Religious Kids Whether it’s Islam, Catholicism, Mormonism, or some other religious movement, it’s not uncommon for all of the believers at a school to find one another and befriend each other. Other than a shared religion, these cliques rarely have any other major commonalities.
  14. 14
    The Artists The Artists (or “Artsy Kids”) are easy to find. They’re in the studio before and after school, working on their next big project. Pants covered in paint, cameras around their necks, and sketchbooks tucked under their schoolwork so they can doodle in between slides in class, the Artists are all about creating. [8]
    • Studies have actually proven that “artist” cliques today are way more popular than they used to be. While being artsy used to be detrimental socially, it’s now considered cool and important! [9]
  15. 15
    The Hip Hop Heads The Hip Hop Heads are always bobbing their heads with their headphones in. They’re talking about the latest Kendrick record, arguing over whether Biggie or Pac was better, and sketching out graffiti art in class. Hip Hop Heads have a lot of social freedom when it comes to jumping from group to group since Hip Hop is one of the more popular genres these days.
    • Some schools may also have a “Gangster” clique, which can be confused with Hip Hop Heads. The “Gangsters” tend to be more into gangster rap, drugs, and gangs (and may actually be in one), while Hip Hop Heads really just enjoy the music and styles.
  16. 16
    The Rebels The Rebels are the rule-breakers. They’re always getting detentions, they’re vaping in the school bathroom, and they’re known to talk back to the teacher on occasion. The Rebels don’t tend to be a very cohesive group (it turns out a bunch of conflict-prone people don’t make for a strong community), but they can be popular if they’re charismatic with their rule-breaking.
  17. 17
    The “Weird” Kids The “Weird” Kids don’t self-identify as the “Weird” Kids a lot of the time—they’re put into this box by bullies, popular kids without a heart, and other students who lack compassion. They’re the outsiders who often get messed with because other kids are insecure in who they are. If you get an opportunity to hang out with a “Weird” Kid, go for it—it’ll be way more interesting than hanging out with some preppy cheerleader.
    • If you ever find yourself getting bullied at school, reach out to a trusted teacher, family member, or counselor. If you see one of those “Weird” Kids getting messed with, stand up for them.
  18. 18
    The TikTokers Another new clique that has only emerged in recent years, the TikTokers are the future influencers and reality TV stars. If they’re not creating online content themselves, they’re spending all of their free time consuming it. You can spot TikTokers by looking to see who won’t put their phone down in class or at lunch—the TikTokers tend to be terminally online .
  19. 19
    The Anime Fans Sometimes referred to as the Weebs, the Anime Fans love reading Manga, drawing their favorite anime characters, and talking about the latest season of One Piece. Aside from their shared love of Anime, the Anime Fans tend to be very inclusive and friendly.
  20. 20
    The Activists The Activists are the kids who show up to protests, spread the message about social issues, and fly the flags of the oppressed peoples everywhere. For the Activists, their “clique” has a concrete mission—to make the world a better place. [10]
  21. 21
    The Gossip Crowd The Gossip Crowd thrives on drama. They’re always discussing the newest school couple, throwing rumors they’ve picked up back and forth, and building tier lists of the hottest guys/gals in school. The Gossip Crowd is often more on the popular side because they take an interest in everything that happens at school, socially speaking, but they can also rub people the wrong way if a rumor gets loose and rubs someone the wrong way.
    • The Gossip Crowd often has a lot of overlap with the Populars, but sometimes they lurk on the periphery of that clique.
  22. 22
    The Memers Another newer, more modern clique, the Memers take their internet subculture and online humor a little too far. They might wear shirts with memes on them, or say things like “ sadge ” or “ monkaw ” unironically out loud. They tend to be super into sites like Reddit, 4Chan, and Imgur.
    • The Memers tend to get a bad wrap as being socially inept, but they’ve got their own in-crowd language and jokes. They’re social, just in their own way!
  23. 23
    The Floaters We’ve made a few references to “Floaters” already, and while they aren’t necessarily a clique, they are sort of defined by their relationship to the clique system. Floaters are the kids who freely jump from one clique to another. They may be members of two distinct cliques that have nothing in common (say, a Hip Hop Head who really loves anime), or they may move freely between groups with a bunch of overlap (like a Popular kid who enjoys the Gossip Crowd and plays a lot of sports).
    • Floaters are also defined by their ability to move between cliques without triggering friction or upsetting anyone. There’s something natural about their inclusion in multiple groups.
  24. 24
    The Loners Loners deliberately go out of their way to avoid being identified with any single clique. They tend to have no problem spending extended time alone, but that doesn’t mean they’re unpopular! In fact, a lot of Loners are super popular because they’re Loners. [11]
    • That said, many Loners do get flagged as potential bad eggs. It’s not always earned, but kids who don’t seek out the company of other students often get marked as potential troublemakers.
  25. 25
    The LBGTQ+ Students There tends to be a lot of negative social pressure (and unfortunately, bullying) that LGBTQ+ kids have to deal with, so it’s natural that they end up identifying with one another in school. Other than their shared journey, LGBTQ+ kids come in every kind of personality and vibe, so this isn’t really a clique in the traditional sense.
  26. 26
    The Ethnic Group These cliques are the unfortunate byproduct of segregation and a lack of diversity in a lot of places. If a school has a small minority of students from a particular ethnic group, those kids will often find comfort in hanging out with one another. It’s a natural phenomenon, and while we’ve included them here as a clique, Ethnic cliques and the LGBTQ+ students are really distinct from the other cliques on this list.
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Section 3 of 5:

Do I have to join a clique?

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  1. While joining a clique can have its advantages (it’s easier to make friends fast, for example), there are a lot of good reasons to not join one. It can be comforting to feel like you’re a part of a large group, but you may make more friends and have more fun in the long run if you just do your own thing. Not “joining” a clique allows you to freely move between whatever social circle makes the most sense to you at a given time.
    • If something in your spirit calls you and you feel deeply connected to a particular clique, there’s nothing wrong with dedicating your time and energy to hanging out with the kids in that group! The point is that you should do what you’re comfortable with.
Section 4 of 5:

Is it bad to be in a clique?

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  1. No, there’s nothing wrong with having a tight-knit group of friends. Cliques get a really bad wrap in movies, TV shows, and even music. Groups of kids are depicted basically as street gangs, but at the end of the day a clique is really just a group of friends with a common interest! If you ever find yourself in a clique (or you’re interested in joining one), you shouldn’t feel bad about it. It’s totally normal and natural to seek out people similar to you.
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Section 5 of 5:

Expert Tips on Dealing with Cliques

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  1. School counselor Alicia Oglesby has some phenomenal advice on meeting people and making friends in high school: “I think making healthy friends, a lot of times, happens through activities. So, a lot of student-athletes and kids in theater or the kids in band, they sort of naturally formed some friendships there.” [12]
    • While activities often lead to the development of a clique, the important thing here is that it happens organically. Just focus on the stuff you want to spend your time doing and let the chips fall where they may when it comes to “joining a group.”
  2. 2
    Don’t feel weird about the things that make you unique. It’s tempting to try and blend in with the crowd, especially in a new place. However, certified teen life coach Cyndy Etler reminds us that the “weird” stuff is what people will be drawn to! She explains, “Generally, people are interested in what is unique and different because our brain craves novel stimulus...Whoever you are, whatever your values are, whatever you've done, that's what people are likely to be interested in it because it's different.” [13]
  3. Parenting expert Amanda Diekman explains that the worst thing you can do is try to pretend to be someone you aren’t. “Part of trying to fit in as a teenager is looking for who your people are. [Kids think] that there's a way to fit in, and that means pretending to be someone you're not. Really though, the best way to fit in is to find people who like you the way you are." [14]
    • Being someone else is super exhausting. You’re best off just being real and letting everyone get to know the real you. As Diekman puts it, “Better to be you and alone than to be surrounded and to be pretending.” [15]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://today.uic.edu/uic-study-details-how-todays-high-school-cliques-compare-to-yesterdays/
      2. ↑ https://today.uic.edu/uic-study-details-how-todays-high-school-cliques-compare-to-yesterdays/
      3. ↑ https://today.uic.edu/uic-study-details-how-todays-high-school-cliques-compare-to-yesterdays/
      4. ↑ https://today.uic.edu/uic-study-details-how-todays-high-school-cliques-compare-to-yesterdays/
      5. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6181473/
      6. ↑ https://mikeplatania.medium.com/rediscovering-skateboarding-and-a-part-of-my-self-47290fd16ead
      7. ↑ https://today.uic.edu/uic-study-details-how-todays-high-school-cliques-compare-to-yesterdays/
      8. ↑ https://today.uic.edu/uic-study-details-how-todays-high-school-cliques-compare-to-yesterdays/
      9. ↑ https://today.uic.edu/uic-study-details-how-todays-high-school-cliques-compare-to-yesterdays/
      1. ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0743558418809537
      2. ↑ https://today.uic.edu/uic-study-details-how-todays-high-school-cliques-compare-to-yesterdays/
      3. ↑ Alicia Oglesby. Professional School Counselor. Expert Interview
      4. ↑ Cyndy Etler. Teen Life Coach. Expert Interview
      5. ↑ Amanda Diekman. Parenting Expert. Expert Interview
      6. ↑ Amanda Diekman. Parenting Expert. Expert Interview

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