From simple observation and experiment, there are 'caste systems' (in public grade schools, if any older members have forgotten the days of the goths and geeks. This is based off of ninth to twelfth graders, so ages 13-18. Excuse the "terms," but this is what you get in a high school.
Try and keep up. I'll say how interested they are.
I am a band nerd/non-partisan
I have a friend who is non-partisan (i think he's 'forum' material)
I know one kid who feel under the "popular" status last year, and is now in the "sub-popular/jock" range. (interested outside of the LotR and TH, but not 'into' it) Along with him two others who are of same status, and were pretty interested about the books and TH, but arnt 'self-motivated' The person above is another one who was in this "group", but he stayed interested. They al kinda read the books together.
Two friends who are band nerds, and they are typical fans-seen the movies, read LotR, and we talk [humorously] about LotR sometimes
One friend who is sub-jock, and he plays the video games, but has extended knowledge (knows who Glorfindel, Beorn are)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a typical American High School in Tolkien. Not really anything distinct; most of the....um...trying to think how to word this....."chronic literature and fantasy infactuaters" are mostly things more along the lines of Harry Potter and the Leagacy of the Drow series. It seems that anyone in the American youth counter-culture can learn Tolkien; all they have to do is pick up the book.
EDIT:
YEAHYA, mah brah.
________
Cb500 Twin