Ninth grade is the first year of high school in the United States and is often referred to as freshman year. Other synonyms for ninth grade include grade 9, year 9, and Form 3. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, ninth grade is referred to as Year 10, while in others, such as Australia, it is referred to as Year 9. Additionally, some schools use different systems for organizing grades, such as middle school or junior high school, which may have different names for ninth grade. Regardless of what it's called, ninth grade is an important year for students as they transition to high school and begin to plan for their academic future.