This investigation attempts to explore the relationship between self concept and socio-economic status (SES) of children from 8 to 14 years of age. In a sample of 3789 children in central U. S. children of low SES scored higher than children of middle SES at all ages, in both sexes, among blacks as well as whites, and in rural areas as well as urban. The self concept yardstick used, Coopersmith's "Self Esteem Inventory", provides 4 subscale scores: general self, social self-peers, school-academic, and home-parents. Low SES youngsters scored higher on all subscales except home-parents. (Author)