This study examined the influences of three parenting variables on children's school achievement: commitment to children's school achievement, demandingness, and responsiveness. The study also examined the influence of maternal employment and satisfaction with employment on the three parenting variables and on children's achievement. Questionnaires completed by 79 ninth-graders measures parenting variables and school achievement; questionnaires completed by mothers measured maternal employment and employment satisfaction. In working class families, maternal and paternal demandingness, responsiveness, and commitment were related to boys', but not girls', achievement. There was no relationship in middle class families. Maternal employment was not related to school achievement. Maternal satisfaction with employment was related to school achievement for boys. For mothers who were not employed, maternal employment satisfaction was related to demandingness. A list of 21 references is included. (BC)