A sample of 472 superintendents in New York State participated in this study, which examined the presence of sex discrimination in the selection of secondary school principals. The superintendents were asked to rate a hypothetical applicant resume that included credentials and a photograph. A hypothetical job description of a secondary school principal and a questionnaire were also included in the packet. The results of the study indicated no difference based on gender in the ratings of applicants with identical qualifications. In a follow-up investigation, 59 superintendents (from the original sample) who had hired one or more secondary principals during the 1980-81 school year were interviewed concerning their hiring experiences. The majority of these superintendents stated that few female applicants were qualified for the job, an assertion the researchers were unable to confirm or refute. The study reaches no conclusions about the presence or absence of sex discrimination in hiring practices, but suggests that the small number of women hired as secondary school principals in New York State may be due to an insufficient number of women applying for the position and to continued sex discrimination. (Author/WD)