This study is an exploratory research effort dealing specifically with the relationship between six independent variables (number of private schools, city or county school district, metropolitan or nonmetropolitan location of schools, private school affiliation, private school types, existence of social elite enrolled in private schools) and a series of eight attitudinal items tapping public school superintendents' ideas about the return of students to the public school and the social impact of the private academies. The first four of the dependent variables--increased faith in public schools, poor private school facilities, poor quality education in private schools, and increasing tuition costs--deal with why students return to the public schools. The second four--private schools took student overload, private schools provided an outlet for racial tension, private schools made public school officials more aware of needs, and private schools created community-based social tensions--deal with the social impact of private schools. Data for this study were collected from questionnaires mailed to all public school superintendents in Alabama. The data were collected during August, 1975, and a response rate of over 60 percent was achieved. (Author/MLF)