In the second year, students are streamed into science and social studies programs, this reduces the number of classes to about 14 per semester.

The applicants take multiple examinations to test their academic aptitudes, foreign language fluency, and computer literacy.

The admission officers take applicant's score in National Examination, a standardized test for all students who wish to graduate middle school, into account.

Two months after commencing their studies in high school, students of 10th grade who are attending RSBI class are eligible to apply for acceleration program (abolished in 2016).

SMA Negeri 8 Jakarta is very well known for being flooded during rainy seasons due to the fact that the school lies next to Ciliwung River's bank.

One characteristic of SMA Negeri 8 Jakarta is the number of students living in rental housings, known as kost, around the school.

SMA Negeri 8 Jakarta is not a boarding school and therefore it does not provide any dormitories for its students, but rental housings are common in its neighborhood.

Students of 11th grade participate in a trip to rural area called TeSIS (Temu Sosial Ilmiah Smandel), where they are hosted by local families.

When this trip is coming to an end, student volunteers from both 10th and 11th grades hold a charity event involving locals.

Pengurus OSIS or commonly referred as PO is the executive branch with the membership of 18 students selected from a leadership development program to serve for 1 year.

They include Study Club (for students wishing to compete in National and International Science Olympiad) and Bukit Duri Beavers (baseball and softball team).

Under each section, there is at least one student groups, designated as subseksi, which works similarly as clubs and societies in other schools, but with a more elaborate political structure.

Upacara Panji is the inauguration ceremony for the officers serving for both branches of OSIS (central student government), where the names and positions of officeholders are officially announced by the Principal.

Lampion or Delapan Championship (previously : 8Schoolastic, which stands for "8 School Art and Science National Competition" is the largest event held annually, when all parts of student government, including all the student groups, organize a large-scale event which involves art and science in the format of school competition.

SMA Delapan giat belajar Demi masa depan bangsa yang besar Kami bersatu hati membangun negara Untuk pertiwi tanah tercinta Kami putra putri Indonesia Membangun negara adil dan makmur Kami bersatu hati membangun negara Untuk pertiwi tanah tercinta

Some foreign universities have also established partnerships with the school, and they visit SMA Negeri 8 Jakarta and organize information sessions.

SMA Negeri 8 Jakarta has graduates attending Indonesian universities, and each year there is a homecoming tradition for those alumni.

They talk before the entire senior class to promote their colleges and help prospective university students prepare themselves for the admission process.

Under the partnership with Singaporean and Japanese universities, it is possible for teachers and student alike to attend workshops and summer camps abroad.

Students are selected each year to participate in exchange programs, where they study in foreign high schools and stay with local families.