Self-concept formation has long been considered the most significant developmental milestone of adolescence. To assess the effects of gender, race, and social class on the general and area-specific self-esteem of late adolescents, 195 eleventh grade students, divided according gender, race (black, white), and social class (low, middle, high) were tested. Subjects completed the Rosenberg General Self-Esteem Scale, the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, and the Brookover Self-Concept of Ability and School Achievement Test. An analysis of the results showed that females, whites, and lower social class adolescents were consistently lower in their self-esteem scores than were males, blacks, and upper social class teenagers. White females were found to be lower in general and happiness self-esteem than all other gender by race subgroups. High socioeconomic status white students were lower on the happiness and behavioral self-esteem measures than black students and white middle class students. Black males and white females were less confident in their school ability than were black females and white males. The study is seen as an initial empirical contribution to the development of a comprehensive model of adolescent self-esteem. (Author/BL)