DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES (X) DESCRIBING AGE, COLOR, SEX, RURAL-URBAN STATUS, EDUCATION OF PARENTS, AND INCOME OF PARENTS ARE USED AS EXOGENOUS VARIABLES TO EXPLAIN SCHOOL ENROLLMENT RATES (R)--THE FRACTION OF A GROUP WITHIN THE SCHOOL AGE POPULATION ENROLLED IN SCHOOL--AND RELATIVE PROGRESS (P)--THE FRACTION OF A GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO ARE AHEAD OF THEIR AGE GROUP MINUS THE FRACTION WHO ARE BEHIND. A MODEL IS DEVELOPED AND TESTED STATISTICALLY, USING DATA OF ONE OF THE 1960 CENSUS SPECIAL REPORTS ON EDUCATION. THE RESULTS SHOW THAT THE X VARIABLES, ESPECIALLY THE PARENT'S EDUCATION VARIABLE, ARE SUCCESSFUL IN EXPLAINING R AND P. THESE X VARIABLES ARE, HOWEVER, ALMOST COMPLETELY OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF THE CHILDREN THEMSELVES SO THAT TO SOME EXTENT THIS IS A MEASURE OF A LACK OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. IN ADDITION, THESE X VARIABLES ARE OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF POLICY MAKERS WHO MIGHT WISH TO INFLUENCE P AND R. (HW)