SCHOOL SIZE AND ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERNS WERE INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED TO BE BASIC INFLUENCES AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF SECONDARY EDUCATION IN 11 SOUTHERN STATES. DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM OFFICIAL RECORDS FOR THE 1962-63 SCHOOL YEAR ON FILE IN STATE DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION IN EACH OF THE 11 STATES. DATA AREAS UTILIZED WERE (1) EXTENT OF CURRICULAR OFFERINGS, (2) QUALITY OF INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL, (3) TEACHING LOAD, AND (4) SCHOOL SIZE AND ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERN. THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY SUGGESTED THAT SCHOOLS WITH AN ENROLLMENT OF UNDER 500 OFFERED FEWER SUBJECT AREAS, FEWER COURSES PER SUBJECT AREA, AND FEWER TOTAL COURSES. TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS WITH AN ENROLLMENT GREATER THAN 500 WERE BETTER TRAINED AND THEIR TEACHING LOAD WAS MORE DESIRABLE. TEACHING EXPERIENCE WAS THE ONLY CRITERION CONSIDERED WHICH DID NOT JUSTIFY THE SUPERIORITY OF LARGE SCHOOLS, SINCE LENGTH OF EXPERIENCE WAS NOT FOUND TO BE RELATED TO SCHOOL SIZE OR ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERN. FINALLY, SCHOOL SIZE AND ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERN WERE INVERSELY RELATED (AS SCHOOL SIZE INCREASED, THE GRADE SPAN OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERN DECREASED) AND INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM ADEQUACY WAS A FUNCTION OF BOTH. THIS DOCUMENT IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE CENTER FOR SOUTHERN EDUCATION STUDIES, BOX 164, GEORGE PEABODY COLLEGE FOR TEACHERS, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37203, FOR $1.50. (GB)