Data were taken from interviews with 26 former or current violent gang members, as well as 17 non-gang members, who were former or current students at Burroughs Middle School in Detroit; also, from interviews with 15 adults who had attended Detroit schools between 1941 and 1970. Burroughs was located in an area that had been neglected by the local, State, and national governments. The school was known for its students' chronic low achievement marks and high rates of disciplinary problems; students were preoccupied with survival rather than education. The school- approved plan that came out of the study contained the following features: 1) Resource curriculum room; 2) Values clarification; 3) Open education; 4) Choice of electives; 5) After-school activities; 6) In-service for gang members; and 7) Security. The specifications for these features are described. 35 tables