Terry Griffith is a popular female high school student with a younger brother, Buddy, and a college boyfriend named Kevin. Hoping to become a professional journalist, Terry competes for a summer internship at the Sun Tribune newspaper, but she is dismayed when her teacher, Mr. Raymayer, selects two boys. Raymayer tells Terry that she might not have what it takes to become a real journalist and suggests she pursue a career in modeling. At home, Terry commiserates with her brother and her best friend, Denise. Believing that she is a victim of sexism, Terry plans to transfer to Sturgis Wilder High School disguised as a boy, and re-submit her article for the same internship. When Terry cuts off her hair and shows up at Sturgis dressed as a boy, bully Greg Tollen throws her in the bushes. At lunch, Terry sits alone and watches Greg harass other students. During physical education class, Terry tries to be excused from class, claiming that she has no gym clothes, but the teacher refuses and gives her a spare sweat suit. When the teacher suggests a basketball game and divides the teams up into “shirts” and “skins,” Terry feigns stomach cramps when told to remove her shirt. In journalism class, Terry submits her article to Mr. Mendosa. He compliments her writing, but says the story is boring. He suggests she write another article by next week and re-submit it for the internship contest. Sometime later, at Terry’s home, Denise encourages her friend to return to school. However, Terry refuses, convinced that she will have a worthy story if she continues her charade. The next day at Sturgis High, a popular student named Deborah breaks an earring and Terry gives her advice on how to fix it. Later, at lunch, Terry makes friends with Rick Morehouse, a fellow transfer student. When Deborah stops at their table to thank Terry for the advice, Rick reveals that he has a crush on Deborah, but she is the girl friend of Greg, the class bully. On the other side of the lunchroom, sophomore Sandy tells her friend that she desires Terry. At gym class, Terry procures a doctor’s note, excusing her for the rest of the week. After school, Sandy flirts unaware that Terry is a girl. Terry brushes Sandy off and gives Rick a ride home, where they talk about girls. Terry thinks Rick should go to the prom and vows to help him find a date. The next day, Terry pushes Rick to pursue several girls, but all attempts end in failure. When Sandy says that she has a cousin named Jill who could be Rick’s date, Terry reluctantly agrees to a double date. They later discover Jill is only eleven years old. Still, the group drinks beer at nearby caves where Sandy starts kissing and groping Terry. Sandy puts her hands down Terry’s pants to discover a balled up pair of socks. Embarrassed, Terry searches for a plausible excuse, but Sandy assumes “he” is trying to impress her with his exaggerated manhood. Terry comes home intoxicated and finds her boyfriend, Kevin, waiting for her. Appalled by Terry’s transformation, Kevin demands to know why she is avoiding him. Terry convinces Kevin to return another day and he leaves. The next morning, Terry apologizes to Rick about the disastrous date and offers to buy him a new outfit. Later, at Sturgis High, Rick wears his new clothes and receives a compliment from Deborah, but Greg insults Rick and Terry. Deborah apologizes for Greg’s behavior, but Terry is disdainful of the bully. At lunch, Terry brings Rick a meal she made for him. Meanwhile, Greg harasses other students. Fed up, Rick climbs on top of the lunch table and gives a speech, insinuating that Greg is a bully because he has a small penis; the students laugh at Greg’s expense. Greg chases after Rick, but Deborah holds her boyfriend back, begging him to stop. When Greg refuses, she breaks up with him. Outside, Terry commends Rick and assures him that any girl would go out with him now. As Deborah storms out of the lunchroom, Rick asks her to the prom, and she accepts. At home, Terry dresses for her date with Kevin, complaining to Denise that Deborah is the wrong girl for Rick. Denise thinks Terry wants Rick for herself, but Terry swears he is just a research subject for her article. Terry asks Denise to be her “date” for the prom, and Denise agrees, joking that Terry is the only date she has had in months. Suddenly, Sandy arrives at the house looking for Terry. Terry quickly changes into her boy clothes, and pretends that her brother Buddy’s room is hers. When Kevin arrives moments later, Terry asks Buddy to distract Sandy and he finds her in his room, dressed only in her underwear. Embarrassed by Terry’s rejection, Sandy gets dressed and leaves. Meanwhile, Kevin demands an explanation of Terry’s strange behavior, then insults her writing by referring to it as a hobby. Before the prom, Terry avoids Kevin’s telephone calls and tells Buddy about her plans to break up with him. Later, at the prom, Terry becomes jealous of Rick and Deborah. Meanwhile, Kevin shows up at the Griffith house and demands that Buddy take him to Terry. Back at the prom, Greg punches Rick in the face. Terry jumps on Greg, defending Rick, just as Kevin and Buddy arrive. Buddy also attacks Greg, but he throws both Terry and Buddy into the nearby ocean. Rick fights Greg alone and knocks him unconscious. Wading out of the water, Terry runs to Rick, but Kevin confronts her and announces he is Terry’s boyfriend. Rick assumes Terry is gay, but she pulls him aside and confesses she is actually a girl. Terry kisses the shocked Rick in front of everyone, as the crowd gasps. Terry goes home and cries as she finishes her article about Rick. Later, Terry wins the internship, but loses her friendship with Rick. Back at her regular school, Mr. Raymaker apologizes to Terry for underestimating her talent, but she admits she was benefitted by the challenge. That summer, Terry longs for Rick, but he surprises her at the newspaper and asks her out on a date, on condition that she let him be the “man” in the relationship.