What is the right thing to do?

Freshman year is not the hardest year. That is junior year. It is best to go to the new school, because everyone wants to make friends during freshman year. It is much, much easier to make new friends that first year of high school. You should presume that your clmates will be rich snobs; you wouldn't want others to judge you. Even if there are rich snobs, there will be people you like. Worst case, you make friends with rich kids that pay for your stuff too. Score!