The gang presence in Cleveland's public schools was first detected in late 1985 in a relatively small number of high schools and junior high schools. School-based crimes and disruptions by gang members generally involved assaults, fighting, threats and intimidation, and trespassing. Gang activity between 1986 and 1988 was characterized by frequent retaliation by gang members that progressively increased in intensity and severity. The gang structure remained generally disorganized and fluid in nature, although increased structure and organization emerged as young people became influenced by the knowledge of gang names, signs, and symbols from other major U.S. cities. School and city officials initially denied the presence of gangs in schools. By 1990, however, gangs were more structured, better organized, and more entrenched in schools and communities. Gang offenses shifted from assaults and threats to murder, drive-by shootings, felonious assaults, weapon possession and use, and gang-related crimes in and around schools. In 1991, the Cleveland public school system formed a youth gang unit to control the increasing school gang presence. Suburban communities also acknowledged the gang problem and established a task force to curb gang activity. The task force combined a balance of suppression, intervention, and prevention strategies. Lessons learned from Cleveland's school and community responses to gangs are noted.