I am dealing with this dilemma now - my daughter is 14 & heading to high school this year- all her friends have had phones with unfettered access since they were like 8! I can’t decide between a locked down iphone

as u have described (i have an old one i can use) or a nokia dumb phone (I would have to purchase). She does multiple sports & currently has to borrow someone’s phone to text/call me if a game or practice gets done early etc. I know its getting bothersome for her & her friends. During the school year she will be traveling pretty far for some games.
It used to be that a teacher or coach would contact the parents but now they rely on the kids to pass along info since they all have phones. We currently have a chrome book with Family link limits & blocksi. The only “social media” she is allowed on is pinterest as there is a chat area that she talks to her friends in (which i can read).