The Santa Cruz Hightower 4 trail/all-mountain bike reduces anti-squat and sees longer suspension travel with slacker head tube and steeper seat tube angles.
The aluminum Specialized Status 2 is designed with durability and affordability in mind, and is available in smart all-mountain, enduro, and DH builds.
The Specialized Chisel full suspension cross-country mountain bike weighs about 30lb and costs $2,600, making it a good option for high-school athletes.
The Giant Faith is a mixed-wheel kids' bike with 140/135mm of suspension travel front/rear and a component mix that's designed for smaller, lighter riders.