A pilot study addressed the economic issue in vocational education as it relates to the wealth and size of school districts. Examined during the study were nine high schools and nine unit districts that fell into three subgroups based on wealth and enrollment. Data were gathered from public records as well as from school business managers and superintendents regarding wealth, size, numbers of students enrolled, and programs offered. Although the researchers were prepared to treat these data statistically, the districts and programs examined appeared to be so diverse that the designers of the study concluded that a statistical treatment would be inappropriate. Because conscious decisions concerning areas such as the scope of programs and the depth of offerings are the prerogative of local districts, the researchers could not assume that large differences in costs per pupil necessarily represent a difference in the quality of vocational offerings. Therefore, they did not conclude that equity problems exist in the state's vocational education system. They did, however, call for a survey to assess the need for more up-to-date hardware, equipment, and facilities and cautioned that care should be taken to ensure that small, poor districts are not the most burdened by outdated facilities. (MN)