This report presents the results of a collaborative study undertaken by five rural, unit school districts in Illinois to provide data to be used in planning for school improvement. Information was gathered from on-site visits by teams of constituents from other districts and through a survey of perceptions of local community persons regarding school district quality. A random sample of 1,770 registered voters was surveyed by mail. The report describes the following common threads, or issues, across districts, that emerged during factor analysis: (1) the overall attitude towards the school; (2) a hard-working orientation; (3) the importance of co-curricular activities; (4) the size of the school; (5) the importance of starting students right; (6) the use of alcohol and drugs; (7) the desire to move students to another school; (8) the size of classes; (9) the importance of students getting good grades and jobs; (10) assistance to working parents; (11) teacher quality and discipline; and (12) retention only with consent. Findings from the open-ended question portion of the survey are listed by school district in the following categories: (1) perceptions of weakest and strongest curricular subjects; (2) what parents least and most like about the schools their children attend; (3) the biggest problem facing their district; (4) what the district should be doing now that it is not doing; (5) ways the schools in the district are particularly good; and (6) how parent, community, and school can work together. The survey questionnaire and frequency distributions of response for items by district are appended. (KS)