Forum: Story Ideas

Ok, I confess, this isn't a story idea, its just research for a story idea! But this seemed the best forum anyhow. I tried asking some history research in the Authors forum, and a few nice people did reply, but it it still feels like asking here will reach a wider audience.

So, apology aside, here's my question:

In the US school system, what are the normal defined groups of students?

I've heard of jocks and cheerleaders and geeks and nerds and, I think, stoners.

I've also recently read a story that mentioned that boys split girls into three groups: those too ugly to admit to, those pretty enough and approachable, and those unobtainable.

Please, list all the various taxonomies you can!

(Stupidly, I'm planning on basing my next story in a US school. And yet my entire understanding of the US school system is from other SOL stories... so I'm expecting I might have the whole thing out of kilter from the start!)

What timeframe? Things were different decade to decade.

Where the school is located matters.

A school in rural Texas might have a popular jock subgroup for Rodeo, or just a redneck clique, and little or no involvement with urban cliques like the LGBT and/or political subgroups.

In San Diego, CA, there might be a clique of surfers and beach bums, while in Olympia, WA, there is a tree-hugger club that practically rules the school and dictates policy for things like a green Prom.

Once you have a timeline and a location, you can start narrowing down your focus.

In Jay Cantrell's Unforgettable Days/Weeks, IIRC, the 'queen' of the school is a Hispanic girl who doesn't seem to be the richest. In most other stories, the 'queen' seems to be the head cheerleader, always blonde, who is very rich, spoiled and shallow. Just how realistic is it for the school royalty to be nice normal people?