Commencing in 1976, a three-phase descriptive study of southern Tasmania's Huon Valley assessed provision of educational services and outcomes of education in terms of opportunities for young people. Sources of information included: review of existing sources; a follow-up study of three groups of area school leavers (1973, 1975, and 1976); interviews with young people and other community members; information and advice from regular meetings of area school principals; and a Search Conference on the future of the Huon, involving a cross-section of community members. The Huon was seen as undergoing rapid change: the agricultural base had been severely reduced; that part closest to Hobart was becoming part of the commuter-zone; further south, economic decline and a migration from the region were still taking place. It was found that differences in resource provision could not explain differences in educational attainment in the Huon as compared with other Tasmanian regions; the State department provided Huon with as much in the way of resources, especially personnel, as other regions in the State. Rather, the differences (or disadvantages) of country students lay more deeply embedded in the social context of country areas. Seven appendices and a bibliography are included. (BRR)