NECESSARILY EXISTENT RURAL SCHOOLS ARE DEFINED AS THOSE WHOSE STUDENT BODY IS LIMITED DUE TO EXTREMES OF DISTANCE, TERRAIN, CLIMATE, OR SPARSE POPULATION. DOCUMENTED REPORTS OF PROJECTS COMPLETED AND IN PROGRESS POINT OUT THE FOLLOWING PROMISING PRACTICES--NONGRADED INSTRUCTION, TEAM TEACHING, UTILIZATION OF TEACHER AIDES, MULTIPLE CLASS TEACHING, SHARED SERVICES, FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING, AND MODIFIED SELF-INSTRUCTION. THE GREATEST PROBLEM IS ENLIGHTENED LEADERSHIP FOR THE SMALL SCHOOL. THIS PAPER WAS PREPARED FOR PRESENTATION AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PROBLEMS OF RURAL YOUTH IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT (SEPTEMBER 1963). (SF)