Is there a way to stop young Latino males from joining a gang?

I asked this in the Men's Health section because there could be better advice here than other sections. I am mentoring a student who I know has recently joined a gang (his clmates tell me). He doesn't like doing any of the clwork. He comes to cl without a backpack or notebook and generally disorganized. I remembered that he called me a "b----" after I asked him where his notebook was. My concern is that I am not doing enough to get him on the right track. He is only a freshman but he looks much older, probably 16, 17. Is this a hopeless case?