One major challenge facing adolescents concerns choices about sex. The results of this survey indicate that the majority of North Carolina's high school students are sexually active. As a group, males generally reported a higher rate of sexual involvement and more sexual partners than females at all grade levels. Black students appear to be a particularly high risk group due to their early ages at sexual initiation and activity with multiple partners. The rate of reported pregnancies is higher among black students. Black females also reported the highest percentage of sexually transmitted diseases. White students were found to be more likely to use alcohol or other drugs prior to intercourse. The AIDS epidemic has focused attention on high risk sexual behaviors among individuals who are sexually active. Findings indicate that among sexually active students slightly over half used a condom the last time they had intercourse. However, nearly one in five sexually active students used nothing. Teenage childbearing also presents numerous risks to both the mother and the child. Almost one in 10 high school students, or a projected 27,000 adolescents, reported having been pregnant or impregnated someone. These findings need to be considered carefully as curricula are reviewed or prevention programs developed to encourage sexual abstinence among teenagers and to ensure high risk practices are reduced among those engaging in sexual behavior. Contains 20 references. (BF)