ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nea Frost admits school hasn't always been easy for her son Noah, 11.

“I’m going to be honest, he’s been challenging, but I have also said that he needs to be challenged,” Frost said. “He is very smart. I think one of his issues is he’s not been challenged to the level that he needs to be challenged at.”

Frost however said she believes the newly created East High School will be the push he needs. She also thinks sports and the size of the school will help him.

“He’s normally been in smaller schools,” Frost said. “To have a larger community, more of an outlet, will be one of things that contributes to his success… I'm excited just to see him excel and bloom into the little man that he’s meant to be.”

On Tuesday, during an orientation for 6th and 7th grade students, that sentiment was echoed by other parents and students who were excited for the first day of school.

“My other school didn’t have soccer or all that stuff and here they do,” 7th grader Denyae O’Neal said. “I like that.”

Administrators also said an initiative called ‘family group’ could have one of the biggest impacts on their students. This is where a staff member pairs up with seven to ten students.

“They can talk about current events, things that are bothering them and exciting news,” EPO Deputy Superintendent Shaun Nelms said. “We’re really trying to focus on building relationships in grades in 6th and 7th so that our students feel engaged and part of East and it becomes part of them.”

Nelms adds due to safety concerns, they’ve decided middle school students will take school busses to school rather than city transit.

Middle schoolers will also start class 30 minutes before the high schoolers.

School at East High begins on Sept. 8.