This document is an English-language abstract (approximately 1,500 words) of a study about secondary education with particular reference to students; it essentially treats the relationship between economics and education in the context of Brazilian society. From the sociological point of view; the study is characterized by concentration on certain theoretical considerations and by a specific methodological orientation. From the educational angle, it seeks to portray existing conditions accurately to serve as a basis for formulating national policy. The authors compare various urban and rural regions, and attempt to show the changes in secondary education brought on by industrialization. The chapters cover the following items: (I) general orientation and hypotheses raised, (II) description of methodology employed; (III) broad picture which emerges from statistics; (IV) to (VIII) the data for the analysis of a number of socioeconomic and psychological characteristics of the students; (IX) and (X) the labor market and the demand for middle grade personnel. The last chapter presents two analytical viewpoints in the form of a general conclusion. (Author/GDB)