Information concerning educational conditions in the southern Appalachian region is scattered, fragmentary, and often partisan to the assumption either that conditions are ideal or that they are inconceivably bad. The purpose of this study is to draw together the available facts in the case. Necessarily, this study is largely statistical. The territory covered has been selected with the advice of school men familiar with conditions in the respective States. Practically all of this mountain region is included in 216 counties, lying in the 8 States of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These are referred to as the "Appalachian Counties." Many of them are only partially mountainous, but are included because they lie wholly within the Appalachian region. Of these 216 counties, 98 are referred to as the "mountain counties." These include the more rugged counties, where the topography and economic conditions are most unfavorable to progress in education. The data used in the tables are taken from the Federal Census of 1910 and from the school reports of the respective States. In every instance the latest information available has been used. In the course of the study six counties were visited. These were selected counties which might be considered as representative of the different types. The counties visited were Buchanan and Wise in Virginia; and Blount, Cumberland, Hancock, and Hawkins in Tennessee. Individual sections contain footnotes. (Contains 16 plates and 16 tables.) [Best copy available has been provided.]