Attendance rates and course failures were used to identify high-risk and low-risk groups. Significant differences were found on number of course failures. High-risk students earned significantly more course failures and absences in their freshmen year compared with low-risk students. There were no significant differences in the two groups on socioeconomic status, educational levels of parents, and single-parent status households. Females perceived themselves as having significantly more involvement with their parents, but no group or gender differences were found with regard to students' perception of parental concern. Only one student admitted to past or present gang members, but high- risk students reported a significantly higher rate of invitation for gang members and more gang-affiliated friendships. The low-risk group reported significantly more satisfaction with school. 1 table and 44 references