The study determined whether rural students enrolled in vocational programs which were considered to be exemplary for training disadvantaged youth differed in attitudes related to school and work from similar disadvantaged youth not enrolled in vocational studies. Ranging in age from 15 to 19 years, 115 students from 4 on-going vocational programs recognized as exemplary by state level vocational educators and 93 students from schools not having special vocational programs for disadvantaged youth were administered the Survey of Pupil Opinion, the Career Maturity Inventory, and the Work Value Inventory. Although the majority of the youth in both samples were male and black, comparable proportions of females and whites were included. The instruments measured the students' attitudes toward themselves, school, teachers, and work. Value was measured in 15 areas: creativity, management, achievement, surroundings, supervisory relations, way of life, security, associates, esthetics, prestige, independence, variety, economic returns, altruism, and intellectual stimulation. Findings included: the disadvantaged vocational group expressed more positive attitudes about themselves as students, gave better opinions of their teachers, and saw themselves as more effective in school and social interactions; and the vocational group displayed attitudes characterized by more involvement with career choice processes, more positive orientations to work, and more independence in decision making. (NQ)