Principal Turnover: Stayers, Leavers and Movers (Indicator 34-2011)

In 2008–09, some 12 percent of all principals left the profession. In addition to principals who left the profession, another 6 percent of all principals moved from their 2007–08 school to a different school for the 2008–09 school year.

In 2008–09, some 12 percent of all principals left the profession (see table A-34-1). The percentage of principals in public schools who left the profession ("leavers") was not significantly different from the percentage of those in private schools who left the profession (12 and 11 percent, respectively). Forty-five percent of public school principals who left after the 2007–08 school year were retired in 2008–09, and 22 percent of private school principal leavers were retired (see table A-34-3). In addition to principals who left the profession, another 6 percent of all principals moved from their 2007–08 school to a different school for the 2008–09 school year ("movers") (either outside or within their district or between or within sectors) (see table A-34-1). The percentage of principals who were movers was higher at public schools than at private schools (7 percent vs. 3 percent, respectively).

Generally, a higher percentage of principals over the age of 60 than principals in younger age groups left the profession (see table A-34-2). In 2008–09, some 20 percent of all principals age 60 or over left the profession, compared with 13 percent of principals ages 50 to 59, some 8 percent of principals ages 40 to 49, and 9 percent of principals ages 30 to 39. These differences in percentages of leavers by age group were seen among principals overall as well as among public school principals, while the only significant difference among the percentages of private school principals leaving the profession was that a higher percentage of principals under 30 (24 percent) left the profession than principals ages 40 to 49 (8 percent). Among principals over the age of 60, a higher percentage of public school than private school principals left the profession (27 vs. 10 percent, respectively).

Compared to principals who left the profession in 2008–09, principals who moved to other schools in 2008–09 followed an opposite pattern in terms of age. A lower percentage of all principals over the age of 60 than of principals in most of the younger age groups moved to other schools. Three percent of all principals age 60 or over moved to other schools in 2008–09, compared with 6 percent each of principals ages 50 to 59 or 40 to 49 and 9 percent of principals ages 30 to 39.

Overall, a higher percentage of principals with the highest level of experience at any school (10 or more years) left the profession in 2008–09, compared with principals with the lowest level of experience at any school (less than three years). Among public school principals, 18 percent who had been a principal at any school for 10 or more years left the profession, while 8 percent of those who had been a principal at any school for less than three years left the profession. The patterns by which public and private school principals left the profession differed in terms of levels of experience. A higher percentage of private school principals who had been a principal at any school for less than three years (16 percent) left the profession, compared with those who had been a principal at any school for 10 or more years (8 percent).

Of those public school leavers with the most experience as principals (10 or more years), a higher percentage were retired in 2008–09 (68 percent), compared with those who were working in a K–12 school, but not as a principal (8 percent) or were working in K–12 education, but not in a K–12 school (20 percent) (see table A-34-3). Among the most experienced private school principal leavers, a higher percentage were retired in 2008–09 (40 percent), compared with those were working in a job outside of K–12 education (22 percent).

While a higher percentage of more experienced principals left the profession than less experienced principals, a higher percentage of less experienced principals moved to other schools (see table A-34-2). A lower percentage of all principals with 10 or more years experience as a principal anywhere (5 percent) moved to other schools in 2008–09, compared with principals with less than three years of experience (8 percent).

Technical Notes

Stayers are 2007–08 principals who were principals in the same schools in 2008–09. Movers are 2007–08 principals who were principals in different schools in 2008–09. Leavers are 2007–08 principals who were no longer principals in 2008–09. "Other" includes principals who had left their 2007–08 school, but for whom it was not possible to determine a mover or leaver status in 2008–09. For more information on the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) and the Principal Follow-up Survey (PFS), see supplemental note 3.

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