A SOURCE OF SPECIFIC INFORMATION WAS DEVELOPED ON INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS IN JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS SERVING CONTRASTING SOCIOECONOMIC AREAS OF SEVEN LARGE CITIES OF THE MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES. THE INFORMATION SOUGHT IN THIS STUDY (GATHERED BY OBSERVATION, INTERVIEW, AND INVENTORY METHODS) FELL INTO TWO CATEGORIES--(1) DATA ABOUT THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS AND (2) DATA ABOUT THE HUMAN DIMENSION OF THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS SURVEYED. THE PROJECT RESULTS WERE USED PRIMARILY TO DESCRIBE DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES BETWEEN SCHOOLS SERVING ADOLESCENTS IN DEPRESSED SOCIOECONOMIC AREAS OF LARGE CITIES AND THOSE SERVING PRIVILIGED AREAS OF THE SAME CITIES FROM STANDPOINTS OF (1) INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS, (2) ORGANIZATION FOR INSTRUCTION, (3) SCHOOL FACILITIES, TEACHING AIDS, AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, (4) ADMINISTRATIVE AND GUIDANCE ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES, (5) INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES, (6) PERCEPTIONS, TECHNIQUES, IDEAS, AND APPROACHES OF LOCAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, GUIDANCE PERSONNEL, AND TEACHERS, (7) MAKEUP OF INSTRUCTIONAL STAFFS IN SUCH DIMENSIONS AS NUMBERS, PREPARATION, EXPERIENCE, TENURE, AGE, AND PLACEMENT, (8) CURRICULAR AND EXTRACURRICULAR SERVICES, AND (9) ADMINISTRATIVE AND TEACHER ATTITUDES WITH RESPECT TO IMPINGMENTS ON SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS. DIFFERENCES IN PROGRAMS, PRACTICES, AND APPROACHES WERE ALSO COMPARED AMONG DIFFERENT CITIES AND STATES. IN GENERAL IT WAS FOUND THAT LITTLE ALLOWANCE WAS BEING MADE IN THE SCHOOL PROGRAMS STUDIED TO COMPENSATE FOR DIFFERENCES IN THE MAKEUP, OUTLOOK, AND MOTIVATION OF YOUTH IN DEPRESSED VERSUS PRIVILEGED SOCIOECONOMIC AREA SCHOOLS. QUESTIONS APPEARING WORTHY OF FURTHER INVESTIGATION WERE OUTLINED. (JH)