Answer:
Rather than trying to categorize personality by grade, I find it more predictive to look at life stage. Sixth graders are on the cusp of being adolescents; some have achieved puberty, some have not, some are in the process.
Some 6th graders are the top grade in their elementary schools; some are grade six in a K-8 building, so neither lowest or highest; some are the youngest group in a 6–8 middle school; and occasionally, the are in a 5–8 middle school, so, again, neither lowest nor highest on the hierarchy.
Grade placement in the building sequence makes a difference; terminal year students tend to be cocky and lord it over the younger students, all the while worrying about what will happen next year. The youngest students in a level are just worried and nervous. It is the transition, rather than a specific grade, that often drives social behavior.
I would say much the same thing about ninth graders/freshmen—-but more importantly, I would encourage you to recognize that each kid is an individual and is driven through the growth process by a combination of nature and nurture.
