Tests the hypothesis that migrants from their communities of origin have higher status aspirations or greater prospects for socioeconomic success. Finds only modest evidence to support this hypothesis among rural youth, and reports that only among White males are occupational and residential aspirations linked. (Author/ST)

Educational and occupational goals of low-income rural youth in 6 Southern states were studied longitudinally by administering questionnaires to entire fifth and sixth grade classes in 28 schools and, 6 years later, by locating the same students to again answer questionnaires. Completed questionnaires for both 1969 and 1975 were obtained from 702…