Given the theoretical complexity of the processes underlying achievement, it is not surprising to find limited investigation of the relationships between maternal employment and adolescent academic performance. The High School and Beyond 1980 sophomores data was used to assess the impact of maternal employment on seven latent variables: number of siblings, sex role orientation, mother's influence in academic matters, personal/social self-concept, academic task confidence, educational/occupational aspirations, and achievement. The LISREL causal modeling technique permitted a more sophisticated and complete analysis of these variables than has been previously attempted. The results indicate that for sophomore middle-class females (1) the hypothesized model applied well to both maternally employed and nonemployed groups; and (2) differences in academic groups were insignificant although some of the other variables do indicate differential trends affected by maternal employment status. (Author)