A survey was undertaken in an effort to understand the basis on which some children choose mathematics and science courses and others opt out. Interviews were conducted in classrooms with 2,500 public school students in grades 5 through 11, and 1,000 telephone interviews were conducted with parents. The survey found that most students make decisions about future math courses with limited or no academic guidance from their schools, and, in most cases, parents are not informed about why these decisions are necessary. Only one-third had participated or planned to participate in choosing their children's math courses. Over half of all students planned to drop math and science at the first opportunity. Students frequently did not understand the need to take mathematics and science courses for academic and job preparation; minority students were more likely to experience a limited curriculum. Data indicate that the interests of minority students in math and science are not being encouraged by their teachers, even though they are the students who may be most in need of guidance. (Contains 12 graphs.) (SLD)