Principals & School Leaders
Data on the K-12 school leadership workforce

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Principals & School Leaders in the South: Click the options below to explore the data.

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Regional Highlights

School leader attrition averaged approximately 15% in the South during the 2023-24 school year. According to available data from states, the school leader workforce was 65.4% female — 12% less than the teacher workforce in the region. Approximately 33.4% of school leaders in the SREB region are people of color.

Map highlighting the number of principals/school leaders by state in the SREB region for 2023-24. Figures range from 657 to 8,878. Some states lack data.

15% average school leader attrition in the South in 2023-24. Image shows two women, a principal and a teacher, having a discussion in an office.

In 2023-24, the school leader workforce in the South was predominantly female, but less so than the teacher workforce. Two pie charts display gender distribution: Principals are 65.4% female, 33.9% male; Teachers are 77.4% female, 21.6% male. Note states: 'School leader data not reported by all states.'

Bar chart comparing the race and ethnicity of principals and teachers in the South for 2023-24. White: Principals 66.6%, Teachers 73.3%; Black: Principals 24.4%, Teachers 16.3%; Asian: Principals 0.4%, Teachers 1.4%; Native American/Native Alaskan/Native Hawaiian: Principals 2.1%, Teachers 1.0%; Hispanic: Principals 5.9%, Teachers 5.7%; Multi-racial: Principals 0.6%, Teachers 1.1%. Note: Incomplete school leader data.

Additional Information: Live Handbook. Administrator Mobility and Attrition.

 

 

Data by State

 

 

 

State Spotlights

Spotlight on National Data from NCES: The National Center for Education Statistics tracks principal mobility and attrition by years of leadership experience.Chart comparing principal mobility and attrition by years of experience in public and private schools nationally.
Spotlight on Texas: Texas tracks the experience level of its school leader workforce, including school principals and assistant principals, on a year-to-year basis.A table shows yearly data on the experience level of Texas school principals from 2017-18 to 2024-25. 10-19 and 20-29 years of experience are the most common.A line graph shows yearly data from 2017-18 to 2024-25 on experience level of principals in Texas. Over this timeframe, the median years of experience is between 19-20; the mean ranges between 19.2 - 19.7 years of experience; and the maximum years of experience ranges between 52 - 60.A table shows yearly data on the experience level of assistant principals in Texas from 2017-18 to 2024-25. 10-19 years of experience is most common.A line graph shows yearly data from 2017-18 to 2024-25 on experience level of assistant principals in Texas. Over this timeframe, the median years of experience is between 15-16; the mean ranges between 15.4 - 16.1 years of experience; and the maximum years of experience ranges between 54-58.
Spotlight on Louisiana: Louisiana releases data on the experience level of retained school leaders alongside that of retained teachers.A set of 2 tables show the experience level of retained public school leaders and retained public school teachers in 2023-24. Both tables display numbers and percentages across experience brackets that range from 1 year or less to 21+ years.
Spotlight on Maryland: Maryland publishes data sets by local education agencies documenting educational attainment and years of experience for both principals and assistant principals.A table showing the educational attainment of school principals statewide in Maryland in 2023, as well as in 3 local education agencies: Baltimore City, Howard County, and Worcester County.A table showing the educational attainment of assistant principals statewide in Maryland in 2023, as well as in 3 local education agencies: Baltimore City, Howard County, and Worcester County.A table showing the experience level of school principals statewide in Maryland in 2023, as well as in 3 local education agencies: Baltimore City, Howard County, and Worcester County.A table showing the experience level of assistant principals statewide in Maryland in 2023, as well as in 3 local education agencies: Baltimore City, Howard County, and Worcester County.
Spotlight on Oklahoma: Oklahoma shares information on school leader demographics, including race and ethnicity, gender, and educational attainment.,Three pie charts highlighting Oklahoma principal demographics for 2023-24. Race & Ethnicity: 77.4% White, 9.5% American Indian, 4.5% Black, 3.0% Hispanic, 0.9% Asian/Pacific Islander. Gender: 71.7% Female, 23.6% Male. Educational Attainment: 65.8% Bachelor's, 27.2% Master's, 6.2% Other, 0.7% Doctorate.

Spotlight Sources: 

 

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