A study examined rural students' academic aspirations and expectations, their perceptions of their parents' aspirations and expectations, and their parents' actual aspirations and expectations. Surveys were completed by 3,733 seventh grade-students in 54 schools in 17 West Virginia counties. Parent response rates were lower, with approximately two thirds of mothers and slightly less than half of fathers responding. Forty four of the schools were rural. Results indicated that rural parents expected and were expected by their children to play a large role in providing information about continued education. Parents placed a much higher value on the role of the guidance counselor than did students. Female students aspired to a bachelor's degree, and males aspired to an associate's degree. Students felt that their parents' goals exceeded their own and that both parents held these higher aspirations. Parents did report higher aspirations for their children than their children held, but the gap was greater than the students perceived. Both parents and students reported similar perceptions of students' academic effort, with at least half reporting effort equivalent to peers and a fourth professing greater effort. Parents reported little contact with schools about courses and grades needed to get into college. Parents and students had reasonably accurate expectations concerning college costs, but low-income parents were doubtful they could afford it. There was a disconnect between academic expectations and educational aspirations that could lead to disappointment and the failure to achieve those aspirations. (TD)