A school-based study was implemented to assess the family history of coronary heart disease (CHD) and hyperlipidemia (HL) in relation to serum lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels. One hundred and twenty-five elementary school students (aged 9-10 years) and 297 junior high school students (aged 12-13 years) participated. Family history was evaluated by the following scoring method: positive family history in a parent, 2 points; in a grandparent, 1 point; and onset of CHD before age 60, 1 additional point. Family history of HL was positive in 8.2% of elementary school students, and 4.2% in junior high school students. Family history of CHD was positive in 11.5% of elementary students, and 11.0% in junior students. Family history score (FHS) for HL was related to serum total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein B (apoB) and lipoprotein (a) in elementary students, and to TC, LDLC, triglyceride and apoB in junior students. There was no relationship between FHS for CHD and serum lipoprotein or apolipoprotein levels in any student. The children with a positive FH of HL already demonstrated an atherogenic lipid profile while those with FH of CHD did not, which was probably because lipid profiles in children are more genetically mediated by a FH of HL than of CHD.