As others have observed (HK, DD), it comes down to accepting that there will be no perfect placement (the value of a perfectly synchronous placement is another discussion altogether). It's just a question of which asynchrony you can tolerate the best.
The dominant culture has a high value for chronological-age ghettos, which is rather at odds with the real world of adult work & (one hopes) community.
And let's not forget that those at the top of the social ladder in adolescence generally have reached their peak; it is difficult to maintain that kind of social status outside of the closed system of high school, and they have not acquired skills for dealing with a drop in status.
Learning how to understand other people and oneself, to be a compassionate friend, and to be both principled and forgiving in relationships are all much more important than fitting in. And will lead to true friendships over the long term.
