This report details the 27th annual study to examine the attitudes of student leaders in U.S. high schools. Participating in the survey were 3,370 adolescents, primarily 16- and 17-year-olds, who had been featured in the 1996 edition of "Who's Who Among American High School Students." The report presents demographic information on the survey participants and provides tables of the survey findings, including breakdowns by sex, race, type of school attended, and type of community. The findings are organized in the following sections: education; school uniforms; prayer in school; high school experiences; school violence; weapons; cheating in school; sexual behavior and attitudes; sexual harassment, assault, and date rape; cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs; peer pressure; tattoos/body piercing; future plans; personal finances; confidence in institutions; important influences; home life; happiness/depression; suicide; popularity; lifestyles; the nation's and their generation's greatest crisis; aspirations; media/technology; prejudice; ethnic diversity and immigration; and abortion. A summary section highlights overall findings, which indicated unexpected levels of stress, depression, and thoughts of suicide. Sexual issues were worrisome to many of these students, and three-quarters admitted to cheating in school to get ahead. Most students studied 7 hours or less per week, and spent at least 8 hours or more per week on social activities, athletics, extracurricular activities, and watching television. (KB)