Elementary school students were ranked by teachers on scales measuring personality characteristics and teacher expectations. Classroom observers also rated the students to assess the validity of teacher rankings and to determine whether teachers and observers use the same characteristics in forming perceptions of students. Teacher rankings and observer ratings were analyzed for sex and grade level differences, and the results were compared. Though some halo effect was evident in teacher rankings, both teachers and observers agreed in perceiving girls more favorably than boys, indicating that real student sex differences are reflected rather than teacher bias. Grade level main effects in observer ratings reflect maturational differences between grades. Grade by sex interactions, reflecting developmental differences between males and females, appeared for some rating scales. (Author/MJB)