How to Know If a Girl Likes You in High School

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Signs she's into you (in-person, text, and online)

Co-authored by LeTisha Underwood and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: June 11, 2025 Fact Checked

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Signs She Likes You

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Asking Her Out

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If you're in high school and wondering if a girl likes you, you're not alone—it’s often hard to figure out what high school girls are feeling. That’s what we’re here for! Keep reading for a list of signs she likes you, whether you’re chatting in person or over text or online. We’ve also included helpful advice from dating coaches and a professional matchmaker on how to make a move in case you’re into her, too.

How to Tell if a Girl in Your Class Likes You

If a girl in your class likes you, she’ll look your way often, smile at you, blush, or find reasons to talk to or hang out with you. When texting or messaging online, she’ll likely reply quickly with thoughtful texts, compliments, and messages that show a genuine concern for you while hinting at wanting to hang out.

Section 1 of 2:

Signs a Girl in Your Class Likes You

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She looks at you a lot. If you catch her staring at you, that could be a sign she's into you or wants to get to know you better. Without staring, look at her occasionally to see if you can catch her looking back at you.^{[1]
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- Keep in mind that some girls are shy, so this isn't a tried-and-true method to tell if a shy girl likes you in school. In fact, she may avoid your gaze instead of looking at you.
- Also, notice if she tries to find you when she walks into the room. She may look around, and when she finds you, her eyes will stop on you for a second.
- Often, she may glance away as soon as she notices you're looking at her, too.^{[2]
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- Reader Poll: We asked 2126 wikiHow readers to tell us what the clearest signal was that a girl had a crush on them, and 53% said prolonged eye contact. [Take Poll] Every girl is different, and you shouldn’t assume she likes you unless she says so. But according to wikiHow readers, staring could definitely be a sign that she’s into you!
To tell if a girl likes you in school, see if she starts smiling at you more often. Maybe her face lights up when you walk over to you, or when you catch her eye, she gives you a wide grin. These could be hints that a girl likes you.^{[3]
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She makes herself more approachable to you. If a girl likes you, she'll often make herself seem more welcoming. She'll put down her phone and turn her body toward you, for instance. She might also sit up straighter, tilt her chin up, or move her hair out of her face with her fingers. A lot of this movement is subconscious, and it can indicate she's into you, especially if she's with a friend of yours and stops her conversation to speak to you.^{[4]
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- On the other hand, if she crosses her arms and legs, turns her body away from you, picks up her book or phone, or generally looks like she doesn't want to be disturbed when you're around, she may not be interested.
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She blushes when talking to you. When we're around someone we like, we tend to unconsciously blush. This is especially true if she’s a girl who likes you you’ve never spoken to before. For instance, she might run her fingers through her hair, adjust her headband, or pass her hands over her clothing to smooth it out.^{[5]
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- She might also blush when she sees you.
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She suddenly becomes more fidgety when you're nearby. People tend to fidget when they're nervous, and one of the ways to know if a girl likes you secretly is if she’s nervous around you! That may mean she jiggles her leg, plays with her hair, or jingles her keys. She might also bite her nails or mess with any jewelry she's wearing.^{[6]
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- Of course, some people just naturally fidget a lot. Watch her before she notices you're nearby. Check if she seems to fidget more when she sees you.
A girl who likes you will laugh more when you're around. She may even laugh at something that's not that funny, just because you said it. If she seems to be laughing or giggling a lot while you're talking to you, she may be into you.^{[7]
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She starts acting differently around you. If you've been friends, she may suddenly seem more distant. If you haven't been close, she may suddenly seem more affectionate. If her behavior suddenly changes toward you, her feelings may have changed, too.^{[8]
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- Also, watch how she treats other people in comparison to how she treats you. If she treats you differently, that could indicate she likes you.
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She finds ways to touch you when interacting. People who like each other tend to make gentle contact while talking. For instance, she might reach out and touch your arm when she's making a point, or she might rub your shoulder as she walks up behind you.
- Professional matchmaker LeTisha Underwood emphasizes that, if a girl likes you, “She’s always asking you about your plans. She’s very flirtatious in nature. She will want to be or get physically close to you.”^{[9]
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- If she hugs you, it’s also a good sign.
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She makes an effort to be where you are. While she's not likely to follow you around, she might just show up where she knows you're going to be, such as reading in the library when she knows you have study hall there. Alternatively, she might try to sit at a nearby table at lunch or even at the same table.
- If she seems to be more dressed up than usual when she's around you, whether at school or when you're alone, that could mean she’s trying to get your attention.
Often, she'll mention more than once that she doesn't have a boyfriend or girlfriend. If she's gay or bisexual (and you are, too), she might bring up that fact more than once to let you know she's available.^{[10]
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She gives you compliments. If she's always saying nice things to you, that's a pretty good sign she could be into you. Of course, everyone gives out compliments now and then, but if she is doing it regularly, pay attention.^{[11]
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- For instance, you may notice she is always complimenting what you're wearing or how smart you are.
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She remembers the little things about you. If she pays close attention to what you say and things you like, that's a good indicator. For instance, maybe she remembers you like cherry cola, so she grabs the last one at lunch for you before they run out.^{[12]
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- Alternatively, maybe you say something about your brother, and she says, "Charlie, right? I've heard you mention him before.
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She texts back right away. If you're talking on social media or by text message, she'll likely reply fairly quickly if she's into you, often within minutes if she's online. If she's not that into you, she may wait longer to reply.^{[13]
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- Also, if she adds you on social media, that's a good sign, too.^{[14]
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If her texts or messages to you include multiple sentences or a long paragraph about the details of her day, she’s likely interested in sharing parts of her life with you. Sending long, thoughtful messages online takes time, and she’s not likely to do so if she’s not interested in getting to know you at all.^{[15]
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She doesn’t hesitate when it comes to starting the conversation between you, even if you’re not online at the moment. It means she wants to talk to you, and she’s confident enough to make it happen on her own. If you’re interested in her, write her back and keep the conversation going!^{[16]
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She may say nice things about how you looked in class, or how great a photo you posted of yourself is. It’s a way for her to let you know she enjoys your company on some level and may be attracted to you. The more specific the compliment is, the more likely it is that she’s into you.^{[17]
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If she sends you texts or online messages later in the evening, it’s because you’re probably still on her mind. She may be looking to see what you’re up to, how you’re handling school assignments, or just want to say something nice, followed by “good night.” Make plans to see her at school the next day if you sense she’d like to hang out.^{[18]
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Instead of simply being funny or cracking jokes, she tells you exactly how she’s feeling, whether good or bad. This can indicate that she trusts you on a deeper level. Being honest and open with her feelings may mean she’s into you and wants to take things to the next level.^{[19]
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She sends you photos or funny videos. If she likes you, she’ll share photos of herself, her friends and family, her outings, or her pets to show you what her life is like. Don’t be afraid to send her pix or vids, too.^{[20]
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- Avoid sending inappropriate photos to her. Even if she shares something private with you, it’s best to respect her while texting or online messaging.
If she shows an authentic interest in your life beyond school, she may like you. She might ask about your hobbies, your family, or what your favorite films, series, or musical artists are. Use this opportunity to share something of your own personality online, and to make a girl at school like you.^{[21]
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If you’re going through something personal, she wants to be there for you. She asks about issues you may or may not have spoken about in a supportive tone that lets you know she wants to help you.^{[22]
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She may ask you about what you’re up to this weekend, or find out if you’re attending a school event. This is likely her way of seeing if you want to get together or hang out.^{[23]
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Section 2 of 2:

How to Ask Her Out

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1
Show her you like her, too. Before you ask her out, you can use some of the same signals to show her that you also like her. For instance, you can smile at her every time you see her, touch her arm during conversations, and invite her to sit next to you at lunch.^{[24]
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- If she acts playfully towards you, reciprocate by flirting with her. Dating coach Joshua Pompey states that, “To show interest, you want to definitely be on the playful side as far as communication goes. Try to break away from being in the friend zone and communicate in subtle ways that there is a potential for something more.”^{[25]
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- Dating coach Renee Slansky agrees that, when reciprocating interest from a girl who likes you, you can first “smile, and then move a little bit closer to them. See how they change—if their body language is starting to turn towards you, have a friendly conversation about nothing and everything.”^{[26]
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Reach out via text or on social media to let her know you’re interested. Offer her a compliment on her social media page that feels appropriate, or text her to see how she is and what she’s up to. Find out more about her likes, hobbies, and goals while paying attention to how much interest she shows in you. Follow up by offering her the chance to get together. For instance, if she says, “Are you going to see the new Batman film this weekend?” say, “Yeah. I really want to. Do you want to go?”
- Avoid worrying too much about whether she likes you; it’s better to get to know her organically and show an interest in who she is.
EXPERT TIP

Imad Jbara
Dating Coach
Imad Jbara is a Dating Coach for NYC Wingwoman LLC, a relationship coaching service based in New York City. 'NYC Wingwoman' offers matchmaking, wingwoman services, 1-on-1 Coaching, and intensive weekend bootcamps. Imad services 100+ clients, men and women, to improve their dating lives through authentic communication skills. He has a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Imad Jbara
Dating Coach

It’s simple to show her that you’re interested in her personal life online. Start by commenting on her social media posts. If her photo shows she's outside in nature, talk about nature in your comment. Now, you have something to talk about to them in person.
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Bolster your self-confidence before you ask her out. Confidence is attractive, so try to believe in yourself. If she doesn't like you, don’t worry about it—there's someone else out there for you! Learn how to be confident by being proud of your appearance, embracing your beliefs, and thinking positively about yourself.^{[27]
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- To bolster your confidence, try practicing what you're going to say to her in a mirror first. Take a deep breath and try to say it in a slow, steady voice.
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Ask her to hang out with you. Try a small "date" first. Ask her if she wants to hang out after school or get a soda; you could even ask to study together. The more you're together, the more likely your friendship will blossom into something more.
- For instance, you might say, "Hey Catherine! You feel like grabbing a soda with me after school?"
- Dating coach Connell Barrett believes that “the way to find out if a girl likes you is to let her know that you like her. Then, she'll give you some clarity and say, ‘Oh, I feel the same.’ You'll be able to tell [by asking her out and whether she says] yes or no to the date.”^{[28]
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Stay positive if she’s not interested. If she doesn't return calls or texts or says “No” when you ask her out, it’s okay. Just accept it and move on. You'll find someone else who’s better suited to you in no time!^{[29]
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- This is especially true after you've had a date or hung out together more. If she suddenly stops wanting to hang around with you, that may mean she's decided she's just not that into you.

Join the Discussion...

How can you tell if a girl likes you?

WikiBandicootTrader459

How do you know if someone likes you? There’s this girl at school I like, and I think she likes me, but I can’t really tell. I don’t want to ask her to be my girlfriend if she’s just going to say no. Do I ask her if she likes me over text? Or do I just look for big signs?

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How do you know if a teenage girl likes you?

Eddy Baller
Dating Coach
Eddy Baller is a men’s dating coach and founder of Conquer and Win, a Vancouver-based service that helps men break free from loneliness and meet the women they truly want. Since 2011, he has coached men to overcome approach anxiety, spark real attraction, and build meaningful relationships—without relying on dating apps, gimmicks, or luck. Through both online sessions and in-person coaching, Eddy gives live feedback as clients meet women in everyday places, making confidence feel natural and conversations effortless. His mission is simple: to help men get into meaningful, long-term relationships.

Eddy Baller

Dating Coach

Expert Answer

It doesn't always mean a girl likes you when she gives you her number, but if she's texting back and forth with you and seems interested in getting to know you better, it's a good sign she's into you.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Treat her like she matters. Girls want to feel like there's someone who cares, someone who can be there for them when they're sad, cuddle with them when they're scared, or whatever. Just make her feel special—like there's nobody you'd rather be with.
Don't try to change yourself to get her attention or make her like you. Just be yourself, and then if she likes you, you'll know she likes you for who you really are.
Eye contact can make or break you. Making regular, sustained eye contact can hint at interest, but be sure you look away every few seconds so you don't seem creepy.

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