Some yearbook articles practically write themselves (looking at you, sports and activities), but a great yearbook will feature additional articles that give a holistic view of your high school’s student body. Coming up with ideas for these articles is as simple as considering what the students will want to remember.
We’ve broken down some potential ideas into categories. Even if you don’t use any of these exact ideas, we’re sure they’ll get your brain kicking into high gear.
School Life
Academics are important, but high school is also about socializing, gaining responsibility, and becoming an adult. Some of the most vivid memories are created outside of the classroom.
- Most embarrassing moments
- Hitting the snooze bar: do or don’t?
- Homework style: git ‘er done or procrastinate?
- Worst school-related nightmares
- Locker or backpack?
- Passing time during passing time
- This year I was proud of…
- Backpack must-haves
- Favorite class experience
- Lightbulb moments
- Making time for everything
- School uniforms: love or loathe
- What’s your commute: busing, driving, or walking?
- School rivalries: why we’re the best!
- Morning routines
Coming of Age
Throughout high school, students are growing up. Each year brings unique challenges and changes. It’s fun to celebrate these milestones.
- First concert
- Getting your driver’s license
- Rock the vote: politics in school
- First jobs
- Taking the ACT/SATs
- What’s next?
- Summer job earnings: spend or save?
- Have you ever been grounded?
- AP classes or college in the schools
- Too old for toys?
- Childhood foods you’ll never let go
- Curfews
- Doing chores
- Naps: be a kid again
Leisure Time
Sometimes school is more about the fun over the fundamentals. Reserve some space to tell the stories that are happening when the students are kicking back and listening to cassettes on their boomboxes (they still do that, right?).
- Gaming
- Fantasy football
- Favorite books
- Obsessions (Taylor Swift, TikTok, binge-worthy shows, etc.)
- Social media
- Hangouts
- Friday night social
- Garage bands
- Non-school sports (skateboarding, snowboarding, figure skating)
- How we shop: in-store or online?
- Constant communication: how many texts do you send in a day?
Current Events
One of the most fun aspects of the yearbook is that it is essentially a time capsule. Up the ante by overtly including current events, music, and trends of the year.
- What’s in the news this year?
- Fashion trends
- Style inspiration
- All about hair, makeup, and beauty
- Favorite TV shows
- Music: best bands and favorite concert experiences
- Dance moves of the year (The Git Up)
- Knowing all the words to your favorite song
- Movies and blockbusters
- Seeing it first: midnight showings
- Your go-to memes/gifs
- New technology: wearable tech and hoverboards
Lunchtime
Whether it’s chatting with friends, playing games, or finishing up some late homework, a lot of stuff goes down in the cafeteria. With these ideas, you can focus on the food or the fun.
- Healthy or not?
- Best lunchtime traditions
- Droolworthy school lunches
- Who packs your lunch
- The best playground games
- Cafeteria workers tell all
- What school food will be missed the most?
- Who do you sit with during lunch and why?
- If you were cooking for the school, what would you make?
People
The most interesting part of anything (including high school) is the people. There are loads of fascinating dynamics, talents, and relationships to explore.
- Siblings
- Nicknames
- Unsung heroes: custodians, school nurses, and admin
- Friends since…
- Fresh faces: a spotlight on new teachers
- Who do you look up to?
- Hidden talents
- How did you become friends?
- Your biggest change in the last four years
- Legacies: kids who go to the same school as their parents
Places
Every story needs a setting, but these ideas turn the setting into the story.
- Rumors about the school: secret hallways, ghosts, hidden treasures
- If you could change one thing about the school, what would it be?
- The best restaurants in town
- Regional specialties (growing up near the beach, Texas football, big city living, etc.)
- Fun facts and quirks about the school building
- Spring break locations
- Where do you want to travel?
- Must-see locations in town
- Indoors or outdoors: where’s the fun?
Time of Year and Events
Over the course of the year, a lot of specific activities take place based on holidays or the season. You can use these triggers as a launch point to look back on the year.
- Homecoming parade
- Halloween: costumes and scares
- Thanksgiving and being thankful
- Seasonal activities: summer, fall, winter, spring
- New Year’s Eve: school resolutions
- Valentine’s day: love or loathe?
- Can we have class outside?
- Field trips
- Science fair
- Graduation
Categories Lead to Brainstorms
Hopefully some of these ideas will lead to some winning articles for your high school’s yearbook. If not, no biggie (we won’t take offense). You can still use these categories to springboard some new article ideas of your own design. Ask your students what they want to remember, and go from there.
