- Surveys & Programs
- Data & Tools
- Fast Facts
- News & Events
- Publications & Products
- About Us
 |
| 2017 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
 Previous Page |
Download Excel  (80KB) |
| Table 212.08. | Number and percentage distribution of principals in public and private elementary and secondary schools, by selected characteristics: Selected years, 1993-94 through 2015-16 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected characteristic | Number of principals | Percentage distribution of principals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993-94 | 1999-2000 | 2007-08 | 2011-12 | 2015-16 | 1993-94 | 1999-2000 | 2007-08 | 2011-12 | 2015-16 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Public schools | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 79,620 | (235) | 83,790 | (327) | 90,470 | (544) | 89,810 | (406) | 90,410 | (298) | 100.0 | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | ||||||||||
| Sex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Male | 52,110 | (613) | 47,130 | (604) | 44,950 | (1,129) | 43,450 | (901) | 41,380 | (690) | 65.5 | (0.70) | 56.2 | (0.69) | 49.7 | (1.21) | 48.4 | (0.92) | 45.8 | (0.74) | ||||||||||
| Female | 27,500 | (542) | 36,660 | (598) | 45,520 | (1,129) | 46,360 | (801) | 49,030 | (672) | 34.5 | (0.70) | 43.8 | (0.69) | 50.3 | (1.21) | 51.6 | (0.92) | 54.2 | (0.74) | ||||||||||
| Race/ethnicity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White1 | 67,080 | (540) | 68,930 | (579) | 73,160 | (1,008) | 72,070 | (723) | 70,340 | (541) | 84.3 | (0.54) | 82.3 | (0.57) | 80.9 | (0.92) | 80.3 | (0.66) | 77.8 | (0.52) | ||||||||||
| Black1 | 8,020 | (351) | 9,240 | (321) | 9,620 | (659) | 9,110 | (394) | 9,550 | (354) | 10.1 | (0.45) | 11.0 | (0.39) | 10.6 | (0.73) | 10.1 | (0.43) | 10.6 | (0.39) | ||||||||||
| Hispanic1 | 3,270 | (258) | 4,330 | (300) | 5,870 | (540) | 6,130 | (404) | 7,430 | (361) | 4.1 | (0.33) | 5.2 | (0.36) | 6.5 | (0.60) | 6.8 | (0.46) | 8.2 | (0.40) | ||||||||||
| Asian1,2 | 620 | (109) | 630 | (124) | 570 | (146) | 820 | (154) | 1,290 | (192) | 0.8 | (0.14) | 0.8 | (0.15) | 0.6 | (0.16) | 0.9 | (0.17) | 1.4 | (0.21) | ||||||||||
| Pacific Islander | — | (†) | — | (†) | 130 | ! | (52) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 0.1 | ! | (0.06) | # | (†) | 0.2 | (0.06) | ||||||||
| American Indian/ Alaska Native1 |
630 | (67) | 660 | (60) | 620 | (179) | 650 | (123) | 620 | (114) | 0.8 | (0.08) | 0.8 | (0.07) | 0.7 | (0.20) | 0.7 | (0.14) | 0.7 | (0.13) | ||||||||||
| Two or more races | — | (†) | — | (†) | 490 | ! | (155) | 1,010 | (183) | 980 | (131) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 0.5 | ! | (0.17) | 1.1 | (0.20) | 1.1 | (0.15) | ||||||||
| Age | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Under 40 | 5,940 | (273) | 8,440 | (302) | 17,290 | (785) | 18,040 | (523) | 17,360 | (507) | 7.5 | (0.34) | 10.1 | (0.35) | 19.1 | (0.84) | 20.1 | (0.58) | 19.2 | (0.56) | ||||||||||
| 40 to 44 | 14,570 | (496) | 10,510 | (317) | 13,330 | (706) | 17,650 | (565) | 19,150 | (515) | 18.3 | (0.61) | 12.5 | (0.37) | 14.7 | (0.78) | 19.7 | (0.62) | 21.2 | (0.56) | ||||||||||
| 45 to 49 | 25,430 | (429) | 19,600 | (535) | 13,690 | (767) | 14,700 | (541) | 19,460 | (599) | 31.9 | (0.55) | 23.4 | (0.63) | 15.1 | (0.86) | 16.4 | (0.60) | 21.5 | (0.65) | ||||||||||
| 50 to 54 | 18,870 | (539) | 27,120 | (606) | 17,570 | (746) | 15,060 | (668) | 13,910 | (438) | 23.7 | (0.68) | 32.4 | (0.71) | 19.4 | (0.82) | 16.8 | (0.73) | 15.4 | (0.49) | ||||||||||
| 55 or over | 14,820 | (441) | 18,130 | (500) | 28,590 | (1,000) | 24,350 | (655) | 20,540 | (631) | 18.6 | (0.55) | 21.6 | (0.60) | 31.6 | (1.06) | 27.1 | (0.74) | 22.7 | (0.70) | ||||||||||
| School level | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elementary | 53,680 | 4 | (294) | 60,110 | (253) | 62,340 | (584) | 61,250 | (443) | 62,090 | (276) | 71.9 | (0.21) | 71.7 | (0.21) | 68.9 | (0.54) | 68.2 | (0.38) | 68.7 | (0.31) | |||||||||
| Secondary | 18,260 | 4 | (161) | 20,450 | (197) | 21,550 | (460) | 20,470 | (537) | 20,280 | (395) | 24.4 | (0.20) | 24.4 | (0.20) | 23.8 | (0.46) | 22.8 | (0.56) | 22.4 | (0.41) | |||||||||
| Combined | 2,750 | 4 | (143) | 3,230 | (146) | 6,580 | (364) | 8,090 | (658) | 8,050 | (332) | 3.7 | (0.19) | 3.9 | (0.17) | 7.3 | (0.40) | 9.0 | (0.74) | 8.9 | (0.37) | |||||||||
| Highest degree earned | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bachelor's or less | 1,150 | (167) | 1,540 | (182) | 1,320 | (207) | 1,960 | (272) | 2,030 | (212) | 1.4 | (0.21) | 1.8 | (0.22) | 1.5 | (0.23) | 2.2 | (0.30) | 2.2 | (0.23) | ||||||||||
| Master's | 50,470 | (536) | 45,440 | (579) | 55,250 | (906) | 55,420 | (678) | 55,390 | (682) | 63.4 | (0.65) | 54.2 | (0.63) | 61.1 | (1.01) | 61.7 | (0.71) | 61.3 | (0.73) | ||||||||||
| Education specialist3 | 20,570 | (459) | 28,280 | (493) | 26,270 | (930) | 23,560 | (492) | 24,020 | (570) | 25.8 | (0.57) | 33.8 | (0.60) | 29.0 | (0.97) | 26.2 | (0.54) | 26.6 | (0.62) | ||||||||||
| Doctor's or first professional |
7,430 | (263) | 8,530 | (386) | 7,630 | (512) | 8,870 | (442) | 8,970 | (415) | 9.3 | (0.33) | 10.2 | (0.46) | 8.4 | (0.57) | 9.9 | (0.49) | 9.9 | (0.46) | ||||||||||
| Number of years as a principal |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 or fewer | 24,450 | (451) | 25,080 | (513) | 31,500 | (1,033) | 29,520 | (758) | 35,420 | (644) | 30.7 | (0.56) | 29.9 | (0.60) | 34.8 | (1.11) | 32.9 | (0.84) | 39.2 | (0.71) | ||||||||||
| 4 to 9 | 26,600 | (548) | 25,900 | (524) | 32,140 | (989) | 35,500 | (886) | 31,370 | (618) | 33.4 | (0.68) | 30.9 | (0.61) | 35.5 | (1.09) | 39.5 | (0.96) | 34.7 | (0.67) | ||||||||||
| 10 to 19 | 19,730 | (412) | 23,230 | (525) | 20,470 | (926) | 19,870 | (634) | 19,960 | (533) | 24.8 | (0.52) | 27.7 | (0.62) | 22.6 | (1.01) | 22.1 | (0.70) | 22.1 | (0.58) | ||||||||||
| 20 or more | 8,840 | (377) | 9,580 | (331) | 6,350 | (414) | 4,920 | (273) | 3,670 | (285) | 11.1 | (0.47) | 11.4 | (0.39) | 7.0 | (0.46) | 5.5 | (0.31) | 4.1 | (0.31) | ||||||||||
| Years of full- and part- time teaching experience prior to becoming a principal |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 or fewer | 5,690 | (251) | 3,210 | (186) | 4,150 | (384) | 4,040 | (264) | 3,360 | (235) | 7.1 | (0.31) | 3.8 | (0.22) | 4.6 | (0.42) | 4.5 | (0.30) | 3.7 | (0.26) | ||||||||||
| 4 to 9 | 29,500 | (516) | 22,510 | (491) | 30,260 | (958) | 34,240 | (792) | 34,970 | (639) | 37.1 | (0.63) | 26.9 | (0.57) | 33.4 | (1.03) | 38.1 | (0.84) | 38.7 | (0.69) | ||||||||||
| 10 to 19 | 36,680 | (558) | 38,110 | (597) | 40,200 | (992) | 39,160 | (752) | 41,970 | (710) | 46.1 | (0.70) | 45.5 | (0.69) | 44.4 | (1.09) | 43.6 | (0.82) | 46.4 | (0.77) | ||||||||||
| 20 or more | 7,740 | (275) | 19,960 | (485) | 15,850 | (781) | 12,380 | (519) | 10,110 | (418) | 9.7 | (0.34) | 23.8 | (0.57) | 17.5 | (0.86) | 13.8 | (0.58) | 11.2 | (0.46) | ||||||||||
| School locale | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | — | (†) | 20,100 | (328) | 21,560 | (731) | 23,440 | (274) | 24,770 | (190) | 27.4 | (0.34) | 24.0 | (0.40) | 23.8 | (0.81) | 26.1 | (0.28) | 27.4 | (0.17) | ||||||||||
| Suburban | — | (†) | 30,640 | (440) | 25,880 | (921) | 24,520 | (356) | 29,120 | (180) | 25.9 | (0.45) | 36.6 | (0.53) | 28.6 | (1.01) | 27.3 | (0.36) | 32.2 | (0.17) | ||||||||||
| Town | — | (†) | 10,860 | (228) | 13,860 | (669) | 12,330 | (341) | 12,360 | (372) | 22.0 | (0.43) | 13.0 | (0.26) | 15.3 | (0.74) | 13.7 | (0.40) | 13.7 | (0.41) | ||||||||||
| Rural | — | (†) | 22,200 | (404) | 29,170 | (1,012) | 29,520 | (430) | 24,170 | (399) | 24.7 | (0.43) | 26.5 | (0.44) | 32.2 | (1.07) | 32.9 | (0.43) | 26.7 | (0.43) | ||||||||||
| Private schools | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 25,020 | (198) | 26,230 | (259) | 27,960 | (328) | 25,730 | (605) | — | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | 100.0 | 100.0 | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | — | (†) | |||||||||||
| Sex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Male | 11,610 | (301) | 11,900 | (308) | 13,070 | (457) | 11,490 | (501) | — | (†) | 46.4 | (1.10) | 45.4 | (1.06) | 46.7 | (1.38) | 44.6 | (1.48) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Female | 13,410 | (283) | 14,330 | (307) | 14,890 | (369) | 14,240 | (462) | — | (†) | 53.6 | (1.10) | 54.6 | (1.06) | 53.3 | (1.38) | 55.4 | (1.48) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Race/ethnicity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White1 | 23,130 | (270) | 23,320 | (309) | 24,400 | (409) | 22,470 | (628) | — | (†) | 92.5 | (0.70) | 88.9 | (0.76) | 87.3 | (0.91) | 87.3 | (1.08) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Black1 | 1,060 | (124) | 1,570 | (164) | 1,820 | (184) | 1,750 | (193) | — | (†) | 4.2 | (0.50) | 6.0 | (0.62) | 6.5 | (0.67) | 6.8 | (0.75) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Hispanic1 | 520 | (91) | 830 | (135) | 1,110 | (149) | 860 | (141) | — | (†) | 2.1 | (0.37) | 3.2 | (0.52) | 4.0 | (0.52) | 3.3 | (0.56) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Asian1,2 | ‡ | (†) | 350 | (64) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | 0.7 | (0.17) | 1.3 | (0.25) | 1.2 | (0.28) | 1.8 | (0.38) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Pacific Islander | — | (†) | — | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| American Indian/ Alaska Native1 |
‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | 0.5 | (0.15) | 0.6 | (0.15) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Two or more races | — | (†) | — | (†) | 200 | ! | (62) | 90 | ! | (45) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 0.7 | ! | (0.22) | 0.4 | ! | (0.17) | — | (†) | ||||||
| Age | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Under 40 | 4,790 | (302) | 3,750 | (223) | 4,750 | (318) | 4,360 | (392) | — | (†) | 19.2 | (1.21) | 14.3 | (0.80) | 17.0 | (1.09) | 16.9 | (1.44) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| 40 to 44 | 4,400 | (217) | 3,450 | (212) | 3,250 | (277) | 3,130 | (300) | — | (†) | 17.6 | (0.83) | 13.2 | (0.83) | 11.6 | (1.00) | 12.2 | (1.05) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| 45 to 49 | 5,140 | (216) | 5,210 | (261) | 3,420 | (246) | 2,630 | (281) | — | (†) | 20.6 | (0.87) | 19.9 | (0.96) | 12.2 | (0.86) | 10.2 | (1.00) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| 50 to 54 | 4,120 | (228) | 5,840 | (291) | 4,390 | (263) | 3,480 | (247) | — | (†) | 16.5 | (0.90) | 22.3 | (1.11) | 15.7 | (0.94) | 13.5 | (0.93) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| 55 or over | 6,550 | (043) | 7,980 | (276) | 12,150 | (77) | 12,120 | (101) | — | (†) | 26.2 | (0.17) | 30.4 | (1.01) | 43.5 | (0.28) | 47.1 | (0.38) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| School level | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elementary | 13,350 | 4 | (244) | 15,810 | (245) | 16,110 | (297) | 14,510 | (505) | — | (†) | 59.5 | (0.74) | 60.3 | (0.85) | 57.6 | (0.81) | 56.4 | (0.90) | — | (†) | |||||||||
| Secondary | 2,300 | 4 | (115) | 2,630 | (133) | 2,930 | (168) | 2,660 | (138) | — | (†) | 10.3 | (0.52) | 10.0 | (0.51) | 10.5 | (0.59) | 10.3 | (0.57) | — | (†) | |||||||||
| Combined | 6,770 | 4 | (174) | 7,800 | (265) | 8,920 | (271) | 8,570 | (210) | — | (†) | 30.2 | (0.77) | 29.7 | (0.89) | 31.9 | (0.88) | 33.3 | (0.71) | — | (†) | |||||||||
| Highest degree earned | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bachelor's or less | 8,590 | (337) | 8,050 | (334) | 9,120 | (427) | 7,990 | (570) | — | (†) | 34.3 | (1.23) | 30.7 | (1.16) | 32.6 | (1.37) | 31.0 | (1.73) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Master's | 12,900 | (292) | 13,370 | (288) | 14,030 | (344) | 12,800 | (363) | — | (†) | 51.6 | (1.28) | 51.0 | (1.09) | 50.2 | (1.20) | 49.7 | (1.49) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Education specialist3 | 2,050 | (103) | 2,600 | (159) | 2,800 | (203) | 2,610 | (200) | — | (†) | 8.2 | (0.41) | 9.9 | (0.60) | 10.0 | (0.75) | 10.1 | (0.80) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Doctor's or first professional |
1,480 | (138) | 2,220 | (167) | 2,010 | (177) | 2,340 | (224) | — | (†) | 5.9 | (0.54) | 8.5 | (0.64) | 7.2 | (0.63) | 9.1 | (0.87) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Number of years as a principal |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 or fewer | 8,270 | (341) | 7,540 | (327) | 9,190 | (351) | 7,100 | (516) | — | (†) | 33.1 | (1.32) | 28.7 | (1.19) | 32.9 | (1.20) | 27.6 | (1.74) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| 4 to 9 | 7,080 | (269) | 6,990 | (320) | 7,230 | (345) | 6,750 | (415) | — | (†) | 28.3 | (1.03) | 26.6 | (1.16) | 25.9 | (1.19) | 26.2 | (1.45) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| 10 to 19 | 6,950 | (310) | 7,340 | (250) | 6,430 | (298) | 6,910 | (350) | — | (†) | 27.8 | (1.23) | 28.0 | (0.93) | 23.0 | (1.04) | 26.8 | (1.33) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| 20 or more | 2,710 | (189) | 4,360 | (230) | 5,110 | (260) | 4,970 | (318) | — | (†) | 10.8 | (0.77) | 16.6 | (0.90) | 18.3 | (0.91) | 19.3 | (1.27) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Years of full- and part- time teaching experience prior to becoming a principal |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 or fewer | 6,290 | (335) | 3,610 | (241) | 7,850 | (381) | 6,820 | (473) | — | (†) | 25.2 | (1.27) | 13.8 | (0.87) | 28.1 | (1.24) | 26.5 | (1.48) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| 4 to 9 | 6,940 | (268) | 5,560 | (244) | 7,030 | (287) | 6,810 | (363) | — | (†) | 27.8 | (1.05) | 21.2 | (0.88) | 25.1 | (1.00) | 26.5 | (1.36) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| 10 to 19 | 9,240 | (251) | 9,070 | (260) | 8,510 | (306) | 7,790 | (403) | — | (†) | 36.9 | (1.03) | 34.6 | (1.04) | 30.4 | (1.09) | 30.3 | (1.50) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| 20 or more | 2,540 | (136) | 7,990 | (265) | 4,580 | (247) | 4,310 | (249) | — | (†) | 10.1 | (0.54) | 30.4 | (0.98) | 16.4 | (0.89) | 16.7 | (0.99) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| School locale | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | — | (†) | 11,250 | (226) | 9,610 | (268) | 8,590 | (267) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 42.9 | (0.78) | 34.4 | (0.90) | 33.4 | (1.28) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Suburban | — | (†) | 9,190 | (229) | 9,510 | (229) | 8,110 | (298) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 35.0 | (0.80) | 34.0 | (0.83) | 31.5 | (1.27) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Town | — | (†) | 3,250 | (190) | 2,780 | (205) | 2,630 | (323) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 12.4 | (0.73) | 10.0 | (0.72) | 10.2 | (1.16) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| Rural | — | (†) | 2,540 | (211) | 6,060 | (296) | 6,390 | (510) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 9.7 | (0.78) | 21.7 | (0.95) | 24.8 | (1.57) | — | (†) | ||||||||||
| —Not available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| #Rounds to zero. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| !Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‡Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable estimate or the coefficient of variation (CV) is 50 percent or greater. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Data for 1993-94 and 1999-2000 are only roughly comparable to data for later years, because the new category of Two or more races was introduced in 2003-04. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 Includes Pacific Islander for 1993-94 and 1999-2000. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Education specialist degrees or certificates are generally awarded for 1 year's work beyond the master's level. Includes certificate of advanced graduate studies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Excludes data for 4,930 public and 2,690 private school principals whose school level could not be determined. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Data are based on a head count of full-time and part-time principals rather than on the number of full-time-equivalent principals reported in other tables. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding and cell suppression. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), "Public School Principal Data File" and "Private School Principal Data File," 1993-94, 1999-2000, 2007-08, and 2011-12; "Charter School Principal Data File," 1999-2000; and National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), "Public School Principal Data File," 2015-16. (This table was prepared December 2017.) |
