Stereotypes about work-bound youth in vocational and comprehensive high schools were examined, using the students' own perceptions of on-going experiences in these two types of schools. Essentially two related stereotypes account for the wide-spread misconception about vocational and comprehensive high schools: (1) Vocational schools are seen as a "dumping ground" for lazy students and slow learners, and (2) Comprehensive high school education is seen as superior to vocational high school education for work-bound youth. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaires from 3,060 students (1,981 boys; 1,079 girls) attending six vocational high schools in as many states and from 1,827 students (890 boys; 937 girls) attending three comprehensive high schools in New England states. Also data were collected from 2,331 Danish vocational students in 14 schools in order to make comparisons with American vocational students. The findings of the study do not support the "dumping-ground" stereotype for this sample of specialized vocational high school students. Also, the findings suggest that American specialized vocational high school students fare as well in their views of themselves and of the education they are receiving as Danish vocational students who live in a country where vocational education is not considered degrading. (CH)