Final answer:
Gang activity reports are highest in urban schools, as supported by the social disorganization theory, which links weak social ties and the absence of social control to increased crime rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the U.S. Department of Justice's National Gang Center, the highest incidence of gang activity reports are made in urban schools. Studies such as those conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics and the Bureau of Justice Statistics reveal a pattern of elevated crime rates, including gang violence, in schools situated in densely populated areas. Additionally, the social disorganization theory adds that crime is most likely to occur in communities with weak social ties and the absence of social control, which is often characteristic of urban environments.
This theory posits that individuals growing up in impoverished urban areas with high rates of drug use and violence are more susceptible to engaging in criminal behaviors, including participating in gang activities. Factors contributing to this incidence include the struggle for resources, social conflict, and the lack of strong, positive community and family involvement which is more often found in better-resourced suburban or rural schools.