The historical change in educational status projections of Georgia rural youth was examined from 1966-1972. Used as the sampling unit, counties were: (1) rural, (2) characterized by low socioeconomic status, and (3) representative of all state regions. All schools in each county with a 10th grade class were used, although not necessarily the same schools at both times due to desegregation and private school formations. Identical questionnaire and testing procedures were used both times. Responses ranged from: (1) quitting high school to pursuing post graduate work, and (2) most to least important for importance of education. Some findings were: (1) educational aspirations had not undergone any major changes from 1966 to 1972; (2) educational expectations decreased rather strongly from 1966 to 1972 for black males and white females, but only minimally for black females and white males; (3) the modal expectation category was to complete high school and pursue some vocational or technical training both in 1966 and 1972; (4) urban residence and high family status occupations were related positively to high educational aspirations and expectations for white males and females but not for black males and females; and (5) education was ranked less important in 1972 by white rural youth than by black youth. (NQ)