This study was conducted to examine the educational aspirations and course enrollment practices of a sample of California high school sophomores. In May 1988, 10th grade students (N=2,949) enrolled in 46 high schools in California completed questionnaires on background characteristics; educational aspirations and post-high school plans; career objectives; course enrollments in mathematics and science; involvement by parents, teachers, and counselors in course enrollment decisions; and attitudes toward school, course decision making, and achievement motivation. The findings revealed that the students had high aspirations, with 50% planning to attended a four-year college in the 2 years following high school graduation. Hispanic students had lower aspirations, lower enrollments in college preparation classes, and lower grade point averages than did Blacks, Whites, or Asians. While 65% of the students had a career goal, many lacked congruence between their career goal and their high school program. The findings suggest that students need to begin receiving information on educational and career planning in the eighth grade and need to continue receiving such information throughout high school. Students also need to be provided with opportunities to move from non-college preparatory courses to college preparatory courses through tutoring, extra coursework, or special transition courses. (The Student Questionnaire, 22 tables, and 5 figures are appended.) (NB)