10 Apps to Help Your High Schooler Succeed

A decade ago, the idea of carrying around the complete works of Shakespeare in your pocket would have been laughable; today, it’s a reality. The traditional back-to-school list – once packed with items like notebooks, planners and pencils – now includes electronics like e-readers, tablets and smartphones. These gadgets offer more than just endless permutations of “Angry Birds”; with thousands of apps designed to give students an educational and organizational edge, they’ve become legitimate learning tools.

1. Evernote (iOS, Android, Windows Phone)

   
   
   • 

     When you’re juggling multiple classes and extracurricular activities, staying organized is critical. Evernote offers an easy (and free) way to save and sync text and audio notes, websites, images and more across multiple platforms, making your data accessible whether you’re at your computer or using a smartphone. An especially useful feature is the ability to search the text in images, which means that you can snap a photo of a syllabus or schedule and do a keyword search later to pull up information like project due dates or required reading.

   Khan Academy (iPad)

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Called “unbelievable” by Bill Gates, the Khan Academy offers more than 3,000 video lessons, complete with subtitles, on topics ranging from calculus to art history. Whether you’re looking for help on graphing a linear equation or understanding the Krebs Cycle, the Academy breaks difficult concepts down into bite-sized, easy-to-understand lessons. The free iPad app gives you access to all of the videos on the website, enables you to download videos for offline viewing and allows you to track your progress and earn achievements.
   • 
     

   Grades 2 (iOS)

   
   
   
   
   
   • A good grade point average can make all the difference in college admissions. Keep a close eye on yours with the free Grades 2 app, which allows you to enter your grades in each class as you receive them and see what your current GPA is at any given time. Enter upcoming assignments and due dates to see what you need to score to maintain your average and use the built-in push notifications to ensure you won’t forget to study for a test or turn in a paper.

   Dictionary.com Mobile (iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry)

   
   
   
   
   
   • Lighten the load in your backpack and carry a dictionary in your pocket instead. This free app, an extension of the website, offers more than 2 million definitions, synonyms and antonyms, along with audio pronunciation, etymology and offline access to ensure that you’re never at a loss for words.

   InClass (iOS)

   
   
   
   
   
   • InClass is a free organization app designed to keep track of everything school-related. It includes a robust calendar to track your class schedule – complete with contact information for your instructors and assignment reminders – and a notes section where you can add text notes and photos. It also includes an audio-recording feature that allows you to record lectures (if your teacher allows it) and save them to the appropriate classes.

   Kindle (iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry)

   
   
   
   
   
   • If you really want to lighten your backpack, the free Kindle app makes carrying around your required reading a snap. Instead of scouring the library or heading to a bookstore, just download the books you need on your phone or tablet. Amazon offers a huge collection of classic literature – including works by Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and Mark Twain – for free, and you can highlight and annotate important sections and check definitions while reading. Some books even include features such as summaries, themes, glossaries and memorable quotes. Many textbooks are available on Kindle, too – either for outright purchase or for semester-long rental.

   Dropbox (iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Web)

   
   
   
   
   
   • When you work on projects in class and at home, keeping track of your documents can be a hassle. Dropbox is a free cloud-storage app available for phones, tablet and the Web that helps you keep track of your files no matter what device you’re using. Use it to store all of your class-related handouts and papers and you’ll be able to access your work whether you’re perusing your tablet at the malt shop or using a computer in the school library. The first 2GB of storage are free; paid subscriptions provide 100GB and up.

   SAT Score Quest (iPad)

   
   
   
   
   
   • This Princeton Review-designed SAT prep app isn’t free, but it’s still a bargain compared to taking one of their prep classes in person. It includes a sample test with a score report to show you areas you need to focus on, and an additional 45-question sample test with step-by-step answers for each answer to help you understand. It also includes 15 “core concept” lessons to teach you the Princeton Review’s SAT-taking strategies, and you can use the included voice-recording function to talk through the problems for later review.

   ACT Practice for Dummies (iOS, Android)

   
   
   
   
   
   • ACT Practice for Dummies includes two full-length timed practice tests that cover all four sections you’ll see on the real ACT, with individual scores for each section and the ability to review the answer to every question or just ones you got wrong. Quiz yourself with the bank of study questions and get instant feedback and solutions when you get something wrong. The $9.99 app also includes tips to make the test day a little easier on you.

   ACT College Search (iOS)

   
   
   
   
   
   • The ACT’s free college search app offers a comprehensive database of nearly every two- and four-year college in the United States, with the ability to browse by location, size, type, majors, admission and cost. If the school has provided it, you can view detailed information such the number of students attending, a gender and racial breakdown of the student body, average ACT & SAT test scores for new students and housing options, along with application and financial aid due dates and contact information. Tap the star icon to save schools to a list of favorites for later reference.