The purpose of this article is to identify topics that principals of highly successful middle level schools perceive as important in principal preparation programs, and to make recommendations for policy and curricular changes based on those recommendations. The importance assigned to topics of study in graduate programs by principals of highly successful schools is compared to that of a national sample. Topics both groups agree on as very important are identified and examined, as are topics about which there is discrepancy. Topics considered not important are also recognized and analyzed. Implications are considered and recommendations made for graduate programs in school leadership. (Contains 1 table.)