Responses from 1,246 school superintendents to a nationwide survey provide a comprehensive look at their opinions, status, and experiences. The superintendents were selected from a random sample of 1 in every 10 school districts in the country, with additional districts selected to ensure statistically meaningful sampling of districts at all levels of enrollment. The data are compared in terms of enrollment levels, community type, and superintendents' years of experience. Questions covered such topics as job satisfaction, superintendent/school board evaluation, and the superintendent's assessment of progress made toward goals for the district and its students. Items concerning the school districts focused on factors such as enrollment, size and quality of the teaching staff, and the basic skill level of students. Included among the questions about the superintendents, their status, and experiences were items about their professional affiliations, career plans, and positions held before appointment to the superintendency. The report discusses the survey methodology and its accuracy, presents a composite portrait of the typical superintendent, and compares large and small districts in terms of their superintendents' characteristics. Following this the 54 tables of data are presented. A technical note concerning survey confidence levels concludes the report. (MLF)