The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced unprecedented challenges to the education system, affecting adolescents' academic experiences worldwide. This study investigates the prevalence and variations of academic stress among higher secondary school adolescents, considering their enrollment in different subject streams, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The study adopts a cross-sectional approach, utilizing a structured questionnaire to collect data from a diverse sample of higher secondary school students. Through systematic sampling, participants from various subject streams are included, encompassing arts, science, and commerce. The research employs well-established stress assessment scales and questionnaires tailored to the pandemic context to quantify academic stress levels. By employing statistical analyses, the study aims to discern variations in stress levels across subject streams and explore potential factors contributing to these disparities. The findings of this research contribute to the understanding of how the pandemic context has influenced academic stress patterns among adolescents pursuing different subject streams. The outcomes hold implications for educational institutions and policymakers, aiding in the development of targeted interventions to mitigate academic stress and promote overall student well-being.