The relationship of population characteristics to school and college enrollments in Illinois are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the numbers of youth and educational attainment. The author suggests that although the Illinois high school graduation rate is lower than that for the nation, the college participation rate of people who do graduate…

National data show that between 1970 and 1974 nonmetropolitan counties grew at a faster rate (1.4% per year) than metropolitan counties (0.6% per year). Factors contributing to this reversal in population trends are: decentralization of U.S. industry; movement of the retired urban elderly to rural and retirement areas; stabilization of the…