I'm going to go with the it does get better.
For my DS16 (11th grade) it was the second half of 6th and most of 7th where he was miserable. Although for my son 7th was better as he had been seeing a therapist for his anxiety & depression.
What I did was he did have him go to school. But I didn't push any extra curricular activities and gave him some space outside school. (He was in band but that was in school.) I let him withdraw partly to keep his sanity. He is introverted and I felt that all day of school was enough social activity for him at that time. But he did attend therapy and that helped. He did have a rough 9th grade as well but as I posted a month or so back. He is now in 11th grade (junior in H.S.) is going so much better. He is involved in clubs and activities and his attitude towards life is so much better.
