The prevalence & persistence of thoughts of death & suicide during early adolescence were estimated in a community-based cohort. A latent class approach was used to identify distinct subgroups based on endorsements to depression items administered repeatedly over 24 months. 2 classes emerged, with 75% in a low ideation class across 4 assessments. Less than 2% persisted in the high ideation class over 3 or more assessments. African-American & Asian-American adolescents with more likely than European-Americans to belong to the high ideation class. No members of the low ideation class endorsed “thought about killing myself” while “thoughts of death & dying” was endorsed by members of both classes. Implications of the findings are discussed. (45 refs.)