Data gathered from a review of the literature, state department of education personnel, and directories of school districts are used to report on small school districts in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Enrollment size of school districts, expenditures per pupil, transportation costs per pupil, and student density were computed for the study area. Only student density proved a useful index to rurality. The review of the literature notes that educational research has shown an urban bias and that problems and strengths of rural schools has been researched outside of the educational research community. Other discussion notes that further research should seek to develop data on family income and building-level enrollment. Statistical information is presented in 47 tables and 93 references are appended to the review of the literature. (SKW)