To investigate a possible gap between the outward acceptance of the AASA Code of Ethics and the individual members' internal or even public adherence to the Code, questionnaires containing 15 anecdotal situations which might face any typical school administrator were sent to 444 chief school administrators. A separate sheet solicited autobiographical information. Two hundred and forty-two responded. The results showed more nonethical than ethical responses. Replies based on actual experience (55 percent) were two to one, ethical to nonethical, while those based upon theoretical responses had an equal ethical-nonethical ratio. Other notable results were that (1) respondent's age was not a significant factor; (2) the humanities majors of undergraduate years had relatively low (nonethical) scores; (3) ethical responses were negatively related to career longevity; (4) AASA membership, religious convictions, and graduate studies in ethical behavior were not significant factors; and (5) salary and size of district were positively related to ethical responses. It is concluded that ethical standards are internalized personally and are not affected by public code, no matter how important such codes are to maintain public image. (HW)