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 youth (50% male, 50% female); 29% were black and 71% were white. Questions concerned educational and occupational aspirations, marriage age and family size expectations, and future residence aspirations. Data indicated that life plans, as expressed by high school age youth, were influenced by background factors and the effects of parenting on the grade school child. For all sex-race categories, the higher the educational expectations, the higher the mental ability, the higher the occupational expectations and the higher the perceived educational wishes of parents. The higher the mental ability score, the higher the prestige of the expected occupation. Data indicated few identifiable factors related to age at marriage expectations, and few common variables related to family size expectations. Apparently, no background factors were associated with residential preference. Recommendations included: (1) improve child's attitude toward school; (2) encourage grade school children to have higher expectations; (3) encourage mothers to have higher educational expectations for their children; (4) produce in teenagers a more receptive attitude toward moving from the home community; and (5) raise the occupational expectations of teenagers. (CM)