DOCUMENT RESUME

High school is an important time in an adolescent's life, during which the influence of peers can be both positive and negative. Using data from a national longitudinal study, high school students ' peer groups and the relationship between the values of peer groups with whom students associated in high school and a broad range of educational outcomes measured during and after high school are examined and presented in this report. Emphasis was placed on exploring the values of peer groups, such as the importance of school learning and achievement, the importance of social activities, and the importance of engaging in delinquent activities. The major findings that emerged indicate that those students whose friends cared about learning had better educational outcomes than students whose friends showed little interest in learning. Likewise, students with friends who were interested in having sex, drinking, and using drugs experienced less desirable educational outcomes. The kinds of friends that students made i