In an effort to improve students' interests in science and science courses, a study was conducted in Israel to evaluate students' attitudes towards science relative to two chemistry curricula. These curricula were Chemistry for High Schools (CFH), and Chemistry--A Challenge (CAC). The CFH program was mainly designed for science-oriented students and is based on inquiry techniques, concept formation and laboratory investigation. The CAC was developed in an attempt to meet the needs of a population of students that are more heterogeneous, both in their cognitive ability and their scientific interest. Major findings of the study indicated that: (1) CAC students' tendency to choose science as a future career was significantly higher than that of CFH students; (2) CAC students appreciated scientists in general and chemists in particular more than CFH students; (3) chemistry was considered significantly more important to CAC students than to CFH students; and (4) CAC students regarded chemistry as a school subject to be more interesting, more important, and less difficult than CFH students. It was concluded that a curriculum geared to the needs and interests of students can help in developing positive attitudes toward science. (TW)