This paper explores six phases of a research project designed specifically to engage high school students as co-researchers in a multisite qualitative study exploring perceptions of tobacco use among high school students in four schools. It describes how university researchers collaborated with the high school students and summarizes seven major themes that emerged from the data across the four schools. The primary research team, consisting of a physician, three university faculty members, and two doctoral students, collaborated with 66 high school students in six research phases from recruiting students through writing up the results. The seven themes that emerged from the study were: (1) desensitization to tobacco use because of exposure; (2) reactions to tobacco use; (3) reasons teens smoke; (4) lack of enforcement of school policies; (5) the consequences of smoking; (6) quit attempts; and (7) the lack of media influence. The project illustrates that university faculty can partner with high school students successfully to conduct research projects with students. Implications include the potential for introducing qualitative research into the high school curriculum and the advantages of involving university faculty and high school students in collaborative projects. Appendixes contain a list of steps for qualitative data analysis and an activity guide for involving high school students as co-researchers. (Contains 2 tables and 11 references.) (SLD)