What to do about this guy?

There's this guy that I've been talking to for a month and a half to about two months. He says he likes me a lot, and that he wants to ask me out on the first day of school or the last day of summer. He is a gangster-type guy, he's really sweet and everything, but he hangs out with the kind of crew that goes to parties and slaps girl's butts. I do like him, and we like each other, and he really wants me to be his girlfriend, but I'm not sure if entering freshman year (High school) with a boyfriend is a good idea. Does it give you a bad impression or anything? Another thing: I am an Asian girl that tends to attract people from the same guys' crowd. I don't know if my feelings for the guy that likes me will change or vice versa before school starts, we have until August and he says he wants us to last a long time. I like the idea of having a boyfriend, but I don't know if I want one even though I like him. Also, I am a pretty good girl, well-known , kind of popular in school, and I know people will give me a hard time about going out with that kid. What do I do about all of this? I know this is kind of confusing, thanks for reading.