When it comes to high school students, chips are an easy crowd-pleaser. Not only do they require no preparation, but you are sure to find a variety that will make even a picky high school student happy. Choose a few kinds, such as regular potato chips, barbecue chips, tortilla chips or pita chips. Pour chips into a few bowls and you’re good to go. Add dips to the mix for flavor. Choose salsa, nacho cheese, onion dip or ranch dip. Grab some avocados and teach your teenager how to make guacamole.

Take a stroll through the grocer's freezer section and keep an eye out for finger foods like mini quesadillas, potato bites, mozzarella sticks and chicken fingers. If you have extra time, prepare your own. While it may take longer than buying them prepared, it can be more cost-efficient.

Pigs in a blanket are an easy-to-make appetizer. Buy pastry crust or triangle rolls, and brown-and-serve sausages or hot dogs. Heat up the sausage or hot dogs, cut them into small pieces, wrap them in the triangle rolls and put them in the oven. Once the rolls have browned, your pigs in a blanket are ready to go.

Preparing your own fruit and vegetable platter is usually cheaper than buying a prepared one. Buy a variety of fruits and vegetables -- such as strawberries, melon, pineapple, carrots, broccoli and peppers -- and wash and cut them yourself. Prepare the vegetables on a serving platter around a bowl of dill or ranch dip. Arrange the cut-up fruit on a separate platter. Because fruit is naturally sweet, it is usually a crowd-pleaser on its own, but adding a sweet dip or whipped topping to the platter may spark the interest of the high school students.

While you don’t want to overdo it, include some sweets that will satisfy high schoolers. Make mini chocolate chip cookies or a pan of brownies. Miniature cupcakes allow you to vary the cake flavor as well as the frosting type. Add some color to the frosting or put some sprinkles on top to increase the visual appeal.