The tensile strength of notched and unnotched graphite/epoxy laminates containing adhesive strips is examined, and a theoretical model is derived for the calculation of stresses in the composite and adhesive constituents. Tsai-Wu and Tsai-Hill failure criteria are used in the model for the prediction of the tensile strength of unnotched composites. Notched strength of composites with adhesive strips is calculated by using methods developed for orthotropic materials with notches. Stress distributions in the vicinity of the notch show the effectiveness of the adhesive strip in reducing the stress concentration factor. Strength predictions are found to agree well with experimental data. Predicted and experimental results suggest that when notches are placed in composites with adhesive strips, they should be placed in graphite/epoxy composite regions only and not in mixed regions that contain composite and adhesive constituents in adjacent plies.