This study examined the responses of 3,915 Oshkosh, Wisconsin students (in grades 5 through 12) to the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) standard form of common questions for school-based interventions. Also, a pilot questionnaire of knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes concerning and predicting tobacco use was administered. NCI findings indicated an important tobacco use problem beginning approximately in the 6th grade and peaking at the 11th, regardless of respondents' gender. Chewing tobacco and snuff use are significant among males, but not among females. Pilot questionnaire findings indicated an important tobacco use problem among both male and female Oshkosh students paralleling NCI results. The research concludes that introduction of tobacco prevention materials into the health education curriculum should start in the middle schools because children start smoking in the sixth grade. (JAM)