In this qualitative study, five female students in the sixth grade were interviewed and surveyed about their views on popularity at their urban middle school in Ohio. The objectives of the study were to investigate whether middle school girls engaged in academic competition, to describe their subjective experiences of popularity in middle school, and to describe their views about academic competition. Most students reported competing for popularity in the areas of academic achievement, social interactions, speaking out, and physical development. The study also explored positive and negative consequences of popularity competition. (Contains 31 references.) (Author/EV)