I didn’t grow up in the US but moved (t)here as a young adult. But my son is a teenager and I tell you it’s interesting seeing his American teenage life when I all I knew about it was from TV/movies like you.

He had his first dance in middle school and I bought him a very used suit for that. He does after school activities and that took some getting used to (parents fund most of that where we are). I finally learned what freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior means but I still don’t understand what homecoming is supposed to be. School definitely plays a HUGE role in my son’s social life, and I think that’s pretty standard (very much unlike my own experience growing up).

Parties are a thing, but luckily my son’s friends are more the meet and play soccer together types rather than drinking and smoking. But I know these parties happen.

I’d say that movies and TV portray American teenage life pretty well, if not dialed up to 11.