A study examined the types of vocational education programs offered in rural, suburban, and urban schools. Data from the 1999 Survey on Vocational Programs in Secondary Schools indicate no significant differences in the distribution of vocational education offerings in urban and suburban schools, so they were combined into a single category of nonrural schools that was compared to rural high schools. Rural schools were less likely than nonrural schools to offer programs for four of the five listed technical occupations, all four listed service occupations, and three of the four listed mechanical occupations. Rural schools were also less likely than nonrural schools to offer three of the six listed programs for health and life science occupations, including the relatively common nurse/nurse's aide programs, and two of the four programs for business and marketing occupations. Rural schools were as likely as nonrural schools to offer the two most common business and marketing programs and all five building trade programs. Rural schools were more likely than nonrural schools to offer welding and agriscience programs. An average of 25 percent of programs offered by nonrural schools were for projected fast-growing occupations, compared to 17 percent for rural schools. These differences do not necessarily mean that rural schools are less responsive to the labor market than other schools--they could reflect labor market differences in rural and nonrural areas. (TD)