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| 2020 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| 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 2017-18 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected characteristic | Number of principals | Percentage distribution of principals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993-94 | 1999-2000 | 2011-12 | 2015-16 | 2017-18 | 1993-94 | 1999-2000 | 2011-12 | 2015-16 | 2017-18 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Public schools | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 79,620 | (235) | 83,790 | (327) | 89,810 | (406) | 90,410 | (298) | 90,850 | (229) | 100.0 | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | ||||||||||
| Sex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Male | 52,110 | (613) | 47,130 | (604) | 43,450 | (901) | 41,380 | (690) | 42,100 | (540) | 65.5 | (0.70) | 56.2 | (0.69) | 48.4 | (0.92) | 45.8 | (0.74) | 46.3 | (0.59) | ||||||||||
| Female | 27,500 | (542) | 36,660 | (598) | 46,360 | (801) | 49,030 | (672) | 48,750 | (559) | 34.5 | (0.70) | 43.8 | (0.69) | 51.6 | (0.92) | 54.2 | (0.74) | 53.7 | (0.59) | ||||||||||
Race/ethnicity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White1 | 67,080 | (540) | 68,930 | (579) | 72,070 | (723) | 70,340 | (541) | 70,580 | (498) | 84.3 | (0.54) | 82.3 | (0.57) | 80.3 | (0.66) | 77.8 | (0.52) | 77.7 | (0.49) | ||||||||||
| Black1 | 8,020 | (351) | 9,240 | (321) | 9,110 | (394) | 9,550 | (354) | 9,570 | (367) | 10.1 | (0.45) | 11.0 | (0.39) | 10.1 | (0.43) | 10.6 | (0.39) | 10.5 | (0.41) | ||||||||||
| Hispanic1 | 3,270 | (258) | 4,330 | (300) | 6,130 | (404) | 7,430 | (361) | 8,090 | (328) | 4.1 | (0.33) | 5.2 | (0.36) | 6.8 | (0.46) | 8.2 | (0.40) | 8.9 | (0.36) | ||||||||||
| Asian1,2 | 620 | (109) | 630 | (124) | 820 | (154) | 1,290 | (192) | 860 | (111) | 0.8 | (0.14) | 0.8 | (0.15) | 0.9 | (0.17) | 1.4 | (0.21) | 0.9 | (0.12) | ||||||||||
| Pacific Islander | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | # | (†) | 0.2 | (0.06) | 0.2 | (0.04) | ||||||||||
| American Indian/ Alaska Native1 |
630 | (67) | 660 | (60) | 650 | (123) | 620 | (114) | 630 | (97) | 0.8 | (0.08) | 0.8 | (0.07) | 0.7 | (0.14) | 0.7 | (0.13) | 0.7 | (0.11) | ||||||||||
| Two or more races | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 1,010 | (183) | 980 | (131) | 930 | (118) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 1.1 | (0.20) | 1.1 | (0.15) | 1.0 | (0.13) | ||||||||||
Age |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Under 40 | 5,940 | (273) | 8,440 | (302) | 18,040 | (523) | 17,360 | (507) | 15,210 | (445) | 7.5 | (0.34) | 10.1 | (0.35) | 20.1 | (0.58) | 19.2 | (0.56) | 16.7 | (0.48) | ||||||||||
| 40 to 44 | 14,570 | (496) | 10,510 | (317) | 17,650 | (565) | 19,150 | (515) | 18,330 | (472) | 18.3 | (0.61) | 12.5 | (0.37) | 19.7 | (0.62) | 21.2 | (0.56) | 20.2 | (0.52) | ||||||||||
| 45 to 49 | 25,430 | (429) | 19,600 | (535) | 14,700 | (541) | 19,460 | (599) | 21,100 | (447) | 31.9 | (0.55) | 23.4 | (0.63) | 16.4 | (0.60) | 21.5 | (0.65) | 23.2 | (0.49) | ||||||||||
| 50 to 54 | 18,870 | (539) | 27,120 | (606) | 15,060 | (668) | 13,910 | (438) | 15,980 | (498) | 23.7 | (0.68) | 32.4 | (0.71) | 16.8 | (0.73) | 15.4 | (0.49) | 17.6 | (0.55) | ||||||||||
| 55 or over | 14,820 | (441) | 18,130 | (500) | 24,350 | (655) | 20,540 | (631) | 20,230 | (468) | 18.6 | (0.55) | 21.6 | (0.60) | 27.1 | (0.74) | 22.7 | (0.70) | 22.3 | (0.51) | ||||||||||
School level |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elementary | 53,680 | 4 | (294) | 60,110 | (253) | 61,250 | (443) | 62,090 | (276) | 62,030 | (273) | 71.9 | (0.21) | 71.7 | (0.21) | 68.2 | (0.38) | 68.7 | (0.31) | 68.3 | (0.28) | |||||||||
| Secondary | 18,260 | 4 | (161) | 20,450 | (197) | 20,470 | (537) | 20,280 | (395) | 20,240 | (275) | 24.4 | (0.20) | 24.4 | (0.20) | 22.8 | (0.56) | 22.4 | (0.41) | 22.3 | (0.29) | |||||||||
| Combined | 2,750 | 4 | (143) | 3,230 | (146) | 8,090 | (658) | 8,050 | (332) | 8,570 | (239) | 3.7 | (0.19) | 3.9 | (0.17) | 9.0 | (0.74) | 8.9 | (0.37) | 9.4 | (0.26) | |||||||||
Highest degree earned |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bachelor's or less | 1,150 | (167) | 1,540 | (182) | 1,960 | (272) | 2,030 | (212) | 1,670 | (201) | 1.4 | (0.21) | 1.8 | (0.22) | 2.2 | (0.30) | 2.2 | (0.23) | 1.8 | (0.22) | ||||||||||
| Master's | 50,470 | (536) | 45,440 | (579) | 55,420 | (678) | 55,390 | (682) | 56,110 | (602) | 63.4 | (0.65) | 54.2 | (0.63) | 61.7 | (0.71) | 61.3 | (0.73) | 61.8 | (0.65) | ||||||||||
| Education specialist3 | 20,570 | (459) | 28,280 | (493) | 23,560 | (492) | 24,020 | (570) | 23,500 | (551) | 25.8 | (0.57) | 33.8 | (0.60) | 26.2 | (0.54) | 26.6 | (0.62) | 25.9 | (0.60) | ||||||||||
| Doctor's or first professional |
7,430 | (263) | 8,530 | (386) | 8,870 | (442) | 8,970 | (415) | 9,580 | (372) | 9.3 | (0.33) | 10.2 | (0.46) | 9.9 | (0.49) | 9.9 | (0.46) | 10.5 | (0.41) | ||||||||||
Number of years as a principal |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 or fewer | 24,450 | (451) | 25,080 | (513) | 29,520 | (758) | 35,420 | (644) | 33,390 | (633) | 30.7 | (0.56) | 29.9 | (0.60) | 32.9 | (0.84) | 39.2 | (0.71) | 36.7 | (0.69) | ||||||||||
| 4 to 9 | 26,600 | (548) | 25,900 | (524) | 35,500 | (886) | 31,370 | (618) | 32,420 | (597) | 33.4 | (0.68) | 30.9 | (0.61) | 39.5 | (0.96) | 34.7 | (0.67) | 35.7 | (0.65) | ||||||||||
| 10 to 19 | 19,730 | (412) | 23,230 | (525) | 19,870 | (634) | 19,960 | (533) | 21,600 | (548) | 24.8 | (0.52) | 27.7 | (0.62) | 22.1 | (0.70) | 22.1 | (0.58) | 23.8 | (0.60) | ||||||||||
| 20 or more | 8,840 | (377) | 9,580 | (331) | 4,920 | (273) | 3,670 | (285) | 3,450 | (233) | 11.1 | (0.47) | 11.4 | (0.39) | 5.5 | (0.31) | 4.1 | (0.31) | 3.8 | (0.26) | ||||||||||
Years of full- and part- time teaching experience prior to becoming a principal |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 or fewer | 5,690 | (251) | 3,210 | (186) | 4,040 | (264) | 3,360 | (235) | 4,190 | (233) | 7.1 | (0.31) | 3.8 | (0.22) | 4.5 | (0.30) | 3.7 | (0.26) | 4.6 | (0.26) | ||||||||||
| 4 to 9 | 29,500 | (516) | 22,510 | (491) | 34,240 | (792) | 34,970 | (639) | 34,600 | (575) | 37.1 | (0.63) | 26.9 | (0.57) | 38.1 | (0.84) | 38.7 | (0.69) | 38.1 | (0.62) | ||||||||||
| 10 to 19 | 36,680 | (558) | 38,110 | (597) | 39,160 | (752) | 41,970 | (710) | 41,910 | (547) | 46.1 | (0.70) | 45.5 | (0.69) | 43.6 | (0.82) | 46.4 | (0.77) | 46.1 | (0.60) | ||||||||||
| 20 or more | 7,740 | (275) | 19,960 | (485) | 12,380 | (519) | 10,110 | (418) | 10,160 | (367) | 9.7 | (0.34) | 23.8 | (0.57) | 13.8 | (0.58) | 11.2 | (0.46) | 11.2 | (0.40) | ||||||||||
School locale |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | --- | (†) | 20,100 | (328) | 23,440 | (274) | 24,770 | (190) | 25,360 | (091) | 27.4 | (0.34) | 24.0 | (0.40) | 26.1 | (0.28) | 27.4 | (0.17) | 27.9 | (0.10) | ||||||||||
| Suburban | --- | (†) | 30,640 | (440) | 24,520 | (356) | 29,120 | (180) | 29,640 | (123) | 25.9 | (0.45) | 36.6 | (0.53) | 27.3 | (0.36) | 32.2 | (0.17) | 32.6 | (0.12) | ||||||||||
| Town | --- | (†) | 10,860 | (228) | 12,330 | (341) | 12,360 | (372) | 12,060 | (101) | 22.0 | (0.43) | 13.0 | (0.26) | 13.7 | (0.40) | 13.7 | (0.41) | 13.3 | (0.10) | ||||||||||
| Rural | --- | (†) | 22,200 | (404) | 29,520 | (430) | 24,170 | (399) | 23,800 | (145) | 24.7 | (0.43) | 26.5 | (0.44) | 32.9 | (0.43) | 26.7 | (0.43) | 26.2 | (0.13) | ||||||||||
Private schools |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 25,020 | (198) | 26,230 | (259) | 25,730 | (605) | --- | (†) | 26,260 | (149) | 100.0 | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | --- | (†) | 100.0 | (†) | ||||||||||
| Sex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Male | 11,610 | (301) | 11,900 | (308) | 11,490 | (501) | --- | (†) | 11,030 | (327) | 46.4 | (1.10) | 45.4 | (1.06) | 44.6 | (1.48) | --- | (†) | 42.0 | (1.23) | ||||||||||
| Female | 13,410 | (283) | 14,330 | (307) | 14,240 | (462) | --- | (†) | 15,230 | (335) | 53.6 | (1.10) | 54.6 | (1.06) | 55.4 | (1.48) | --- | (†) | 58.0 | (1.23) | ||||||||||
Race/ethnicity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White1 | 23,130 | (270) | 23,320 | (309) | 22,470 | (628) | --- | (†) | 22,620 | (232) | 92.5 | (0.70) | 88.9 | (0.76) | 87.3 | (1.08) | --- | (†) | 86.2 | (0.81) | ||||||||||
| Black1 | 1,060 | (124) | 1,570 | (164) | 1,750 | (193) | --- | (†) | 1,410 | (168) | 4.2 | (0.50) | 6.0 | (0.62) | 6.8 | (0.75) | --- | (†) | 5.4 | (0.64) | ||||||||||
| Hispanic1 | 520 | (91) | 830 | (135) | 860 | (141) | --- | (†) | 1,260 | (118) | 2.1 | (0.37) | 3.2 | (0.52) | 3.3 | (0.56) | --- | (†) | 4.8 | (0.45) | ||||||||||
| Asian1,2 | ‡ | (†) | 350 | (64) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | 510 | (87) | 0.7 | (0.17) | 1.3 | (0.25) | 1.8 | (0.38) | --- | (†) | 1.9 | (0.33) | ||||||||||
| Pacific Islander | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | 0.3 | ! | (0.12) | |||||||||
| American Indian/ Alaska Native1 |
‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | 0.5 | (0.15) | 0.6 | (0.15) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | 0.3 | ! | (0.12) | |||||||||
| Two or more races | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 90 | ! | (45) | --- | (†) | ‡ | (†) | --- | (†) | --- | (†) | 0.4 | ! | (0.17) | --- | (†) | 1.2 | (0.27) | ||||||||
Age |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Under 40 | 4,790 | (302) | 3,750 | (223) | 4,360 | (392) | --- | (†) | 4,470 | (298) | 19.2 | (1.21) | 14.3 | (0.80) | 16.9 | (1.44) | --- | (†) | 17.0 | (1.14) | ||||||||||
| 40 to 44 | 4,400 | (217) | 3,450 | (212) | 3,130 | (300) | --- | (†) | 3,130 | (217) | 17.6 | (0.83) | 13.2 | (0.83) | 12.2 | (1.05) | --- | (†) | 11.9 | (0.83) | ||||||||||
| 45 to 49 | 5,140 | (216) | 5,210 | (261) | 2,630 | (281) | --- | (†) | 3,610 | (240) | 20.6 | (0.87) | 19.9 | (0.96) | 10.2 | (1.00) | --- | (†) | 13.8 | (0.91) | ||||||||||
| 50 to 54 | 4,120 | (228) | 5,840 | (291) | 3,480 | (247) | --- | (†) | 3,610 | (237) | 16.5 | (0.90) | 22.3 | (1.11) | 13.5 | (0.93) | --- | (†) | 13.7 | (0.89) | ||||||||||
| 55 or over | 6,550 | (244) | 7,980 | (276) | 12,120 | (424) | --- | (†) | 11,430 | (372) | 26.2 | (0.95) | 30.4 | (1.01) | 47.1 | (1.66) | --- | (†) | 43.5 | (1.38) | ||||||||||
School level |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elementary | 13,350 | 4 | (244) | 15,810 | (245) | 14,510 | (505) | --- | (†) | 14,380 | (223) | 59.5 | (0.74) | 60.3 | (0.85) | 56.4 | (0.90) | --- | (†) | 54.8 | (0.80) | |||||||||
| Secondary | 2,300 | 4 | (115) | 2,630 | (133) | 2,660 | (138) | --- | (†) | 3,900 | (209) | 10.3 | (0.52) | 10.0 | (0.51) | 10.3 | (0.57) | --- | (†) | 14.9 | (0.78) | |||||||||
| Combined | 6,770 | 4 | (174) | 7,800 | (265) | 8,570 | (210) | --- | (†) | 7,980 | (209) | 30.2 | (0.77) | 29.7 | (0.89) | 33.3 | (0.71) | --- | (†) | 30.4 | (0.78) | |||||||||
Highest degree earned |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bachelor's or less | 8,590 | (337) | 8,050 | (334) | 7,990 | (570) | --- | (†) | 8,080 | (397) | 34.3 | (1.23) | 30.7 | (1.16) | 31.0 | (1.73) | --- | (†) | 30.8 | (1.52) | ||||||||||
| Master's | 12,900 | (292) | 13,370 | (288) | 12,800 | (363) | --- | (†) | 13,280 | (399) | 51.6 | (1.28) | 51.0 | (1.09) | 49.7 | (1.49) | --- | (†) | 50.6 | (1.47) | ||||||||||
| Education specialist3 | 2,050 | (103) | 2,600 | (159) | 2,610 | (200) | --- | (†) | 2,830 | (172) | 8.2 | (0.41) | 9.9 | (0.60) | 10.1 | (0.80) | --- | (†) | 10.8 | (0.66) | ||||||||||
| Doctor's or first professional |
1,480 | (138) | 2,220 | (167) | 2,340 | (224) | --- | (†) | 2,060 | (179) | 5.9 | (0.54) | 8.5 | (0.64) | 9.1 | (0.87) | --- | (†) | 7.9 | (0.68) | ||||||||||
Number of years as a principal |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 or fewer | 8,270 | (341) | 7,540 | (327) | 7,100 | (516) | --- | (†) | 9,380 | (422) | 33.1 | (1.32) | 28.7 | (1.19) | 27.6 | (1.74) | --- | (†) | 35.7 | (1.63) | ||||||||||
| 4 to 9 | 7,080 | (269) | 6,990 | (320) | 6,750 | (415) | --- | (†) | 6,430 | (318) | 28.3 | (1.03) | 26.6 | (1.16) | 26.2 | (1.45) | --- | (†) | 24.5 | (1.17) | ||||||||||
| 10 to 19 | 6,950 | (310) | 7,340 | (250) | 6,910 | (350) | --- | (†) | 6,340 | (285) | 27.8 | (1.23) | 28.0 | (0.93) | 26.8 | (1.33) | --- | (†) | 24.2 | (1.08) | ||||||||||
| 20 or more | 2,710 | (189) | 4,360 | (230) | 4,970 | (318) | --- | (†) | 4,100 | (257) | 10.8 | (0.77) | 16.6 | (0.90) | 19.3 | (1.27) | --- | (†) | 15.6 | (0.97) | ||||||||||
Years of full- and part- time teaching experience prior to becoming a principal |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 or fewer | 6,290 | (335) | 3,610 | (241) | 6,820 | (473) | --- | (†) | 5,150 | (296) | 25.2 | (1.27) | 13.8 | (0.87) | 26.5 | (1.48) | --- | (†) | 19.6 | (1.14) | ||||||||||
| 4 to 9 | 6,940 | (268) | 5,560 | (244) | 6,810 | (363) | --- | (†) | 5,220 | (255) | 27.8 | (1.05) | 21.2 | (0.88) | 26.5 | (1.36) | --- | (†) | 19.9 | (0.97) | ||||||||||
| 10 to 19 | 9,240 | (251) | 9,070 | (260) | 7,790 | (403) | --- | (†) | 9,220 | (321) | 36.9 | (1.03) | 34.6 | (1.04) | 30.3 | (1.50) | --- | (†) | 35.1 | (1.19) | ||||||||||
| 20 or more | 2,540 | (136) | 7,990 | (265) | 4,310 | (249) | --- | (†) | 6,680 | (292) | 10.1 | (0.54) | 30.4 | (0.98) | 16.7 | (0.99) | --- | (†) | 25.4 | (1.08) | ||||||||||
School locale |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | --- | (†) | 11,250 | (226) | 8,590 | (267) | --- | (†) | 8,870 | (107) | --- | (†) | 42.9 | (0.78) | 33.4 | (1.28) | --- | (†) | 33.8 | (0.33) | ||||||||||
| Suburban | --- | (†) | 9,190 | (229) | 8,110 | (298) | --- | (†) | 9,030 | (84) | --- | (†) | 35.0 | (0.80) | 31.5 | (1.27) | --- | (†) | 34.4 | (0.28) | ||||||||||
| Town | --- | (†) | 3,250 | (190) | 2,630 | (323) | --- | (†) | 2,440 | (60) | --- | (†) | 12.4 | (0.73) | 10.2 | (1.16) | --- | (†) | 9.3 | (0.22) | ||||||||||
| Rural | --- | (†) | 2,540 | (211) | 6,390 | (510) | --- | (†) | 5,910 | (93) | --- | (†) | 9.7 | (0.78) | 24.8 | (1.57) | --- | (†) | 22.5 | (0.34) | ||||||||||
| ---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. Some data have been revised from previously published figures. 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, and 2011-12; SASS, "Charter School Principal Data File," 1999-2000; National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), "Public School Principal Data File," 2015-16 and 2017-18; and NTPS, "Private School Principal Data File," 2017-18. (This table was prepared November 2019.) |
