Copperdale is a weird place. It’s beautiful, honestly, with that dusty, nostalgic Americana vibe that makes you want to go buy a varsity jacket and sit on a pier at sunset. But once you actually dive into The Sims 4 High School Years, you realize it’s less about a cinematic teen drama and more about managing the sheer chaos of pathfinding bugs and the terrifying reality of Social Bunny.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours in this pack. Some days, I think it’s the most essential expansion EA has ever released for storytelling. Other days, I’m staring at a Sim who refuses to go to class because they’re too busy "T-posing" to assert dominance in the hallway. It’s a messy, ambitious, and deeply granular look at the teenage experience that somehow manages to be both revolutionary and frustratingly hollow at the same time.
The Active High School Experience: Is It Actually Fun?
The big selling point was the "active" school day. For years, we watched our teens disappear into a rabbit hole, returning hours later with a "Fine" moodlet and maybe a B grade. Now, you follow them. You literally walk into Copperdale High, and honestly, the first time you do it, it feels like a different game. You have lockers to decorate. There are whiteboards. There’s a cafeteria where the "Thriftea" influence is palpable.
But here’s the thing. The school day is incredibly short. By the time you’ve grabbed a quick meal and maybe socialized with a crush, the bell is ringing for the first class. If your Sim is on the other side of the lot, they’re going to be late. Every. Single. Time.
You’re basically playing a time-management simulator. You have to balance the daily goals—like "Ask a Sim about their day" or "Study at a whiteboard"—while trying to actually build a narrative. The teachers? They’re mostly there for decoration. The real meat of the gameplay happens in the hallways, where the social dynamics (theoretically) play out.
The Problem With the Principal
Principal Mei Prescott is everywhere. She’s like a spectral entity designed specifically to stop your Sim from having a single moment of rebellion. You want to prank a locker? She’s there. You want to sneak out? She’s there. It’s a bit much. The "sneaking out" mechanic, which utilizes the new window and trellis objects, is famously finicky. Half the time, the prompt just doesn't trigger, or your Sim decides to walk out the front door instead of using the elaborate escape route you built for them.
Social Bunny and the Death of Privacy
If you want to understand The Sims 4 High School Years, you have to understand Social Bunny. It’s the in-game social media app that functions like a cross between Twitter and a fever dream. On paper, it’s brilliant. You post about your day, you gain followers, and you build relationships.
In practice, it’s a chaotic mess.
Your Sim can send a "Friendly" post to their mom, and the mom might respond with a "Mean" comment for no reason at all. It’s buggy. It’s repetitive. And yet, it is the most efficient way to build relationships in the history of the franchise. You can go from strangers to soulmates in about forty-five seconds just by spamming "Friendly" messages on the app. It feels like cheating, but in a way that perfectly captures how weirdly performative modern teenage life has become.
Trendi and the Economy of Outfits
Then there’s Trendi. This is where the pack actually shines if you’re a "Create-A-Sim" (CAS) enthusiast. You go to Thriftea—part bubble tea shop, part thrift store—and curate outfits. You can then list these outfits on the Trendi app to try and set a new fashion trend.
It’s surprisingly deep. You can actually see other Sims walking around the world wearing the "Hypebeast" or "Boho" look you created. If you play it right, your Sim can become a "Simfluencer" and make more money than their parents do in the Doctor career. It’s a weirdly accurate depiction of the Gen Z side-hustle culture.
The Prom Night Letdown
Prom happens every single Saturday. That’s a lot of proms. In a standard Sim lifespan, your teen might attend four or five proms before they hit young adulthood. It takes away the "once-in-a-lifetime" magic, doesn't it?
The event itself is a "Goaled Event," much like a wedding or a party. You show up, you dance, you vote for Prom Royalty, and you eat some punch. If you don't complete the specific tasks, the game tells you the night was a failure. It feels a bit like a checklist. I’ve found that the best way to enjoy it is to ignore the goals entirely and just focus on the drama. Who is dating whom? Who got rejected? That’s where the fun lives, not in the "Dance with a Date" button.
What Nobody Tells You About the After-Parties
The after-parties at the Plumbite Pier are actually better than the prom itself. The pier has a Ferris wheel, a haunted house, and a tunnel of love. These are "rabbit hole" attractions, meaning you don't actually see your Sims inside them (you just see the exterior shake and some icons pop up), but the moodlets they get afterward are great for storytelling. Taking a crush to the pier at night is genuinely one of the most atmospheric things you can do in the game.
The CAS and Build/Buy Assets
Let’s be real: even if you hate the gameplay, the items in this pack are top-tier. The Sims 4 High School Years brought some of the best bedroom furniture we’ve ever seen. We’re talking about messy beds, posters that actually look like they belong on a teenager's wall, and desks that feel lived-in.
The "Style" system for rooms was a huge addition. You have "Art Deco," "Twee," and "Goth Lite" vibes. The hair and clothing options are also fantastic. They moved away from the "costume-y" look of earlier packs and embraced actual modern fashion trends.
- Best CAS Item: The oversized sweaters and layered shirts.
- Best Build Item: The functional "side-hustle" business table.
- Most Underused Item: The school lockers (they mostly just sit there unless you're at school).
Is it Worth the Price Tag?
This is where it gets tricky. If you’re a "legacy" player who loves seeing your Sims grow up, yes. It adds so much flavor to the teen years that were previously just "Adults but shorter and with school." The new "Teen Aspiration" categories—like Live Fast or Goal Oriented—give you a roadmap for how to play a teenager that feels distinct from playing an adult.
However, if you’re a "builder" who doesn't care about school mechanics, you might find the "Follow to School" feature annoying. It’s a lot of loading screens. And the bugs? They’re real. I’ve seen Sims get stuck in the graduation ceremony for twelve hours. I’ve seen diplomas disappear into the void.
Essential Tips for Managing the Chaos
If you're going to play this pack, you need a strategy to keep from losing your mind. The game doesn't tell you these things, but they're the difference between a fun session and a frustrated alt-F4.
- Don't follow them to school every day. It’s exhausting. Follow them on Mondays to set their goals, then let them go alone on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This gives you time to play with the rest of the household.
- Clear your Social Bunny feed. If the app starts lagging your game (and it will), go in and delete old posts. The game struggles to track thousands of social media entries.
- Use the "Set as Favorite" on lockers. Do this immediately on the first day. It ensures your Sim has a home base and doesn't spend half the lunch hour wandering around looking for a place to put their books.
- Check the "Trend" at Thriftea often. Fashion trends change. If you're trying to make money on Trendi, you need to match what the world currently thinks is cool, or you'll be stuck with a bunch of "Streetwear" outfits that nobody wants to buy.
The Graduation Ceremony Glitch
A lot of people think their game is broken because graduation doesn't trigger. Here’s the secret: Graduation usually happens the Sunday after your Sim ages up to a Young Adult. If you age them up on a Friday, you might have to wait over a week in-game for the ceremony. It’s a weird design choice that confuses almost everyone. When you do finally get there, make sure you don't have any other events scheduled, or the game might "skip" the ceremony entirely.
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Final Practical Steps for Players
Before you jump back into Copperdale, take a second to adjust your settings. Go into your game options and make sure "Enable Social Bunny" is toggled how you want it. If you find the constant notifications annoying, turn them off.
Next, head to the Gallery and look for "High School Overhaul" lots. The default school that comes with the pack is... fine. But it's a bit empty. There are some incredible builders who have created "Functional High Schools" that include gyms, better cafeterias, and actual hangout spots that make the "Active School" day feel much more alive.
Finally, give your teen a "Side Hustle." Whether it’s being a Simfluencer or a Video Game Streamer, the new careers in this pack are surprisingly well-integrated. They allow you to earn money and fame without ever leaving the house, which fits the modern teen vibe perfectly. Just don't let Principal Prescott catch you doing it in the computer lab. She's always watching.
How to Fix Common Issues
- Sim won't go to class: Reset the Sim (Shift-click or use
resetsim Name) and manually click the classroom floor to "Go Here." - Trendi outfit won't sell: Lower the price. If it's over 500 Simoleons, it's a hard sell unless your Sim is "Famous" from the Get Famous expansion.
- Social Bunny is blank: This usually happens if you have mods that interfere with the UI. Update your mods or try clearing your game cache files.
The pack is a 7/10 that could have been a 10/10 with more polish. But for the fashion and the bedroom decor alone? It’s hard to imagine playing without it now. Focus on the storytelling, embrace the weirdness of Social Bunny, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll survive high school. Again.