A survey of school district superintendents sought to gather data on a number of characteristics and compare the data with earlier surveys. From a random sample of 2,536 superintendents, stratified by district size, responses were received from 1,724, for a return rate of 68 percent, or 11 percent of all U.S. superintendents. The variables covered included superintendent age, sex, ethnic group, marital status, political affiliation, career history and experiences, discrimination problems, mentors, relationships with school boards, minority and women superintendents, and professional preparation and training. Also covered were districts' urban or rural location, and changing demographics. The 1992 10-year study found that only a small percentage of the nation's superintendents are women or members of a racial or ethnic minority group. However, women and minority superintendents are more often found in larger, more urban school districts. Superintendents have more formal education than their counterparts in previous decades. The complexity of the position also has increased. The 1992 study shows that most superintendents spend about 15 years as superintendents in no more than three districts. Numerous tables present the data. (Contains 91 references.) (MLF)