Percentage distribution of principal sex by race/ethnicity, by school type and selected school and principal characteristics and state: 2020–21

School type, selected school and principal characteristic, and state	American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic				Asian, non-Hispanic				Black or African American, non-Hispanic				Hispanic, regardless of race				Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic				White, non-Hispanic				Two or more races, non-Hispanic
	Female		Male		Female		Male		Female		Male		Female		Male		Female		Male		Female		Male		Female		Male
All principals	0.4		0.3		0.9		0.4		6.6		2.9		5.5		3.1		0.1		0.1	!	43.1		35.3		0.9		0.4

All public school principals	0.4		0.2		0.6		0.3		7.1		3.3		5.7		3.6		0.1		0.2	!	41.2		36.0		0.8		0.5

School classification
Traditional public	0.5		0.2	!	0.6		0.3		6.8		3.0		5.4		3.5		0.1	!	0.2	!	41.1		37.1		0.8		0.5
Charter school	‡		‡		0.5	!	0.8	!	10.5		5.6		8.3		4.9		‡		‡		41.4		25.3		0.9	!	0.6	!

Community type
City	0.4	!	‡		1.3		0.7		12.6		5.9		9.9		5.6		0.2	!	0.1	!	36.7		24.4		1.2		0.8
Suburban	0.3	!	‡		0.5	!	0.4		6.7		3.1		6.4		3.6		‡		0.3	!	43.8		34.1		0.7		0.2	!
Town	0.5	!	‡		‡		‡		4.5		1.8		2.4		2.6	!	0.3	!	‡		39.4		46.8		0.5	!	‡
Rural	0.7		0.3	!	‡		‡		3.1		1.4		2.1		2.0		‡		‡		43.5		45.1		0.8		0.6	!

School level, based on CCD definition¹
Elementary	0.4		‡		0.8		0.4		8.4		2.4		7.6		2.8		0.1	!	0.2	!	50.0		25.6		1.1		0.2	!
Middle	0.6	!	‡		0.3	!	0.1	!	7.5		3.6		4.1		3.9		‡		‡		30.3		47.5		0.8	!	0.9	!
Secondary/high	‡		0.5	!	0.3	!	0.4	!	4.9		5.7		3.1		5.5		‡		0.3	!	26.2		51.5		‡		0.9	!
Combined/other	0.8	!	‡		‡		‡		3.1		1.7		3.1		3.1	!	‡		‡		45.6		40.2		‡		0.7	!

School level, based on low and high grades²
Primary	0.5		‡		0.9		0.4		8.5		2.4		7.6		2.8		0.1	!	0.2	!	49.6		25.8		1.1		0.2	!
Middle	0.5	!	‡		0.4	!	0.1	!	7.4		3.6		4.1		3.7		‡		‡		30.6		47.5		0.8	!	0.9	!
High	‡		0.4	!	0.3	!	0.5	!	4.6		5.1		2.6		5.6		‡		0.3	!	25.8		53.3		‡		0.6	!
Combined	0.8	!	‡		‡		‡		3.9		4.2		3.7		3.6		‡		‡		40.1		41.3		‡		1.3	!

Student enrollment
Less than 100	0.8	!	‡		‡		‡		5.0		4.3	!	4.0	!	7.0		‡		‡		40.8		36.9		‡		‡
100–199	1.3	!	‡		‡		‡		6.8		2.8	!	3.3		3.6	!	‡		‡		40.5		38.2		1.1	!	0.9	!
200–499	0.3	!	0.2	!	0.6	!	0.3	!	8.8		2.7		5.7		2.5		0.2	!	‡		44.5		32.5		1.0		0.6
500–749	0.5	!	‡		0.8	!	0.4	!	6.4		2.9		7.6		3.3		‡		‡		42.6		34.3		0.9	!	0.2	!
750–999	‡		‡		1.1	!	0.3	!	5.7		4.2		6.5		4.4		‡		‡		35.4		40.6		1.1	!	‡
1,000 or more	‡		‡		0.9	!	0.7	!	4.0		5.6		4.0		5.7		‡		0.3	!	28.9		48.9		0.3	!	0.3	!

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for free or reduced-price lunches³
0–34	‡		‡		0.4	!	0.5		2.1		1.4		2.3		1.6		‡		‡		46.1		43.8		0.7		0.2	!
35–49	‡		‡		0.4	!	‡		2.6		1.7		2.6		0.8	!	‡		0.1	!	43.4		46.8		0.7	!	0.4	!
50–74	‡		‡		0.4	!	0.5	!	4.7		3.1		4.5		2.8		0.2	!	0.3	!	40.8		40.7		1.0	!	0.7	!
75 or more	0.8		0.3	!	0.9		0.3	!	13.2		5.2		9.6		6.3		0.1	!	‡		37.2		24.7		0.9		0.6

Principal age
Less than 45 years	0.4	!	0.2	!	0.9	!	0.3	!	6.5		2.8		6.2		3.1		‡		‡		39.2		39.4		0.7		0.3	!
45–54 years	0.3	!	0.2	!	0.4	!	0.3		7.8		3.5		5.5		4.3		‡		0.3	!	39.8		36.0		1.1		0.5
55 years or more	0.9	!	‡		0.7	!	0.4	!	6.7		3.6		5.3		2.9		0.2	!	‡		46.7		30.9		0.6	!	0.7	!

Principal salary
Less than $75,000	1.6	!	‡		‡		‡		3.9		3.2	!	5.8		2.7		‡		‡		48.6		33.1		‡		‡
$75,000–$94,999	0.6	!	0.3	!	‡		‡		7.9		2.6		6.1		2.4		‡		‡		44.6		33.6		1.0		0.7
$95,000–$114,999	‡		0.3	!	‡		0.3	!	8.0		3.3		4.6		2.7		0.2	!	#		41.0		37.8		0.6	!	0.4	!
$115,000 or more	0.2	!	‡		1.4		0.8		6.4		3.9		6.3		5.7		0.2	!	0.4	!	36.3		37.2		0.9	!	0.4	!

Principal highest degree
Bachelor's degree or less	‡		‡		‡		‡		1.6	!	2.4	!	11.3	!	2.1	!	‡		‡		43.9		31.2		‡		‡
Master's degree	0.4		0.3	!	0.8		0.4		5.5		2.9		6.5		4.6		0.1	!	0.2	!	40.2		36.6		0.9		0.5
Educational specialist or professional diploma⁴	0.4	!	‡		0.5	!	‡		9.3		3.0		3.6		1.2		‡		‡		44.3		36.5		0.5	!	0.4	!
Doctorate or first professional degree	‡		‡		‡		‡		12.2		5.9		4.8		3.5		‡		‡		38.9		32.0		1.3	!	0.4	!

State
Alabama	‡		‡		‡		‡		22.4		6.4	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		28.8		41.5		‡		‡
Alaska	11.0	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		30.8		50.3		‡		‡
Arizona	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		8.4	!	8.4		‡		‡		38.9		33.1		‡		‡
Arkansas	‡		‡		‡		‡		15.2		3.1	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		36.0		41.6		‡		‡
California	‡		‡		2.8	!	0.7	!	1.9		1.8	!	12.5		12.2		‡		‡		37.5		27.2		1.9	!	‡
Colorado	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		5.1	!	‡		‡		‡		49.4		39.4		‡		‡
Connecticut	‡		‡		‡		‡		4.6	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		47.0		39.7		‡		‡
Delaware	‡		‡		‡		‡		8.1		4.3	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		52.1		28.0		‡		‡
District of Columbia	‡		‡		‡		‡		46.8		11.8		‡		‡		‡		‡		21.8		7.8	!	‡		‡
Florida	‡		‡		‡		‡		13.2		5.9		12.1		5.0	!	‡		‡		37.9		24.8		‡		‡
Georgia	‡		‡		‡		‡		18.4		7.5		‡		‡		‡		‡		42.7		28.3		‡		‡
Hawaii	‡		‡		10.2		21.2		‡		‡		7.0	!	‡		13.7		6.0		8.0	!	19.4		9.1	!	3.3	!
Idaho	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		45.0		48.3		‡		‡
Illinois	‡		‡		‡		‡		6.0		5.1	!	4.6	!	2.8	!	‡		‡		37.5		42.2		‡		‡
Indiana	‡		‡		‡		‡		3.7	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		28.5		61.4		‡		‡
Iowa	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		34.7		63.1		‡		‡
Kansas	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		35.8		57.5		‡		‡
Kentucky	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		61.0		39.0		‡		‡
Louisiana	‡		‡		‡		‡		20.9		7.3		‡		‡		‡		‡		54.3		13.7		‡		‡
Maine	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		56.0		44.0		‡		‡
Maryland	‡		‡		‡		‡		34.1		5.6	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		31.6		21.9		‡		‡
Massachusetts	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		48.4		41.1		‡		‡
Michigan	‡		‡		‡		‡		5.9		5.5	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		51.0		35.4		‡		‡
Minnesota	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		48.1		42.3		‡		‡
Mississippi	‡		‡		‡		‡		23.3		13.8		‡		‡		‡		‡		29.7		33.2		‡		‡
Missouri	‡		‡		‡		‡		4.5	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		48.6		45.3		‡		‡
Montana	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		45.5		47.2		‡		‡
Nebraska	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		34.6		65.4		‡		‡
Nevada	‡		‡		‡		‡		3.7	!	‡		6.9	!	‡		‡		‡		39.3		37.8		‡		‡
New Hampshire	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		37.4		62.6		‡		‡
New Jersey	‡		‡		‡		‡		8.1		3.3	!	8.6		2.7	!	‡		‡		46.4		30.8		‡		‡
New Mexico	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		28.4		7.9	!	‡		‡		33.0		19.3		‡		‡
New York	‡		‡		‡		‡		9.2		4.0	!	5.9		3.2	!	‡		‡		38.3		36.9		‡		‡
North Carolina	‡		‡		‡		‡		19.6		4.9	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		37.0		33.8		‡		‡
North Dakota	‡		2.4	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		52.2		44.2		‡		‡
Ohio	‡		‡		‡		‡		8.8		5.7	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		38.5		45.5		‡		‡
Oklahoma	5.1	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		44.9		35.3		9.5		‡
Oregon	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		53.5		41.7		‡		‡
Pennsylvania	‡		‡		‡		‡		4.4	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		38.8		50.0		‡		‡
Rhode Island	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		3.5		6.8	!	‡		‡		‡		51.4		35.1		‡		‡
South Carolina	‡		‡		‡		‡		14.0	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		47.9		30.7		‡		‡
South Dakota	5.7	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		35.9		56.2		‡		‡
Tennessee	‡		‡		‡		‡		14.8		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		48.4		33.9		‡		‡
Texas	‡		‡		0.6	!	‡		6.5		4.1		18.5		10.0		‡		‡		36.2		22.6		‡		‡
Utah	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		55.4		38.3		‡		‡
Vermont	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		50.6		48.3		‡		‡
Virginia	‡		‡		‡		‡		15.9		5.7	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		39.5		32.5		‡		‡
Washington	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		43.9		48.2		‡		‡
West Virginia	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		67.1		26.4		‡		‡
Wisconsin	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		48.6		44.8		‡		‡
Wyoming	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		37.1		57.7		‡		‡

All private school principals	‡		0.8	!	2.0		0.4	!	4.5		1.6		5.0		1.4		‡		‡		50.3		32.7		0.9		0.2	!

School classification
Catholic	‡		‡		‡		‡		1.3	!	‡		5.9		2.4	!	‡		‡		59.3		28.4		1.1	!	‡
Other religious	‡		‡		1.5	!	‡		6.5		2.3		2.5		1.2	!	‡		‡		45.0		38.2		‡		‡
Nonsectarian	‡		‡		4.2	!	‡		4.1		1.3	!	8.7		0.7	!	‡		‡		51.1		26.8		1.5	!	‡

Community type
City	‡		‡		3.7		‡		6.5		1.8	!	6.7		1.3	!	‡		‡		47.8		28.2		1.3	!	‡
Suburban	‡		‡		1.7	!	0.7	!	5.7		2.3	!	5.7		1.8	!	‡		‡		52.7		28.2		0.9	!	‡
Town	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		3.1	!	‡		‡		‡		55.7		36.1		‡		‡
Rural	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		2.0	!	1.4	!	‡		‡		48.4		45.1		‡		‡

School level, based on CCD definition¹
Elementary/middle	‡		‡		2.8		‡		4.7		0.6	!	5.5		1.4	!	‡		‡		56.0		26.8		1.1	!	‡
Secondary/high	‡		‡		‡		‡		2.1	!	3.5	!	3.1		1.8	!	‡		‡		39.9		46.7		‡		‡
Combined/other	‡		‡		‡		‡		5.2		2.5	!	4.7		1.2	!	‡		‡		44.5		37.7		0.7	!	‡

School level, based on low and high grades⁵
Elementary	‡		‡		2.9		‡		4.3		0.5	!	5.6		1.3	!	‡		‡		56.3		26.9		1.1	!	‡
Secondary	‡		‡		‡		‡		1.5	!	3.1	!	3.8		1.7	!	‡		‡		38.2		50.1		‡		‡
Combined	‡		‡		‡		0.9	!	5.7		2.7	!	4.3		1.4	!	‡		‡		44.7		36.8		0.7	!	0.5	!

Student enrollment
Less than 100	‡		1.6	!	3.4		‡		6.2		1.7	!	6.0		1.0	!	‡		‡		49.5		29.5		0.9	!	‡
100–199	‡		‡		‡		‡		4.2		1.9	!	3.4		2.0	!	‡		‡		55.3		30.4		‡		‡
200–499	‡		‡		‡		‡		2.2		1.1	!	5.6		1.8	!	‡		‡		50.3		35.4		‡		‡
500–749	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		37.7		58.5		‡		‡
750 or more	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		40.9		53.1		‡		‡

Principal age
Less than 45 years	‡		‡		2.2	!	‡		3.7	!	1.1	!	6.5		1.8	!	‡		‡		45.8		36.7		‡		‡
45–54 years	‡		‡		1.6	!	‡		4.3		2.3	!	5.8		1.5	!	‡		‡		48.0		33.7		1.4	!	‡
55 years or more	‡		‡		2.1	!	0.6	!	5.3		1.3	!	3.1		1.0	!	‡		‡		55.6		29.0		0.7	!	‡

Principal salary
Less than $75,000	‡		1.1	!	1.9		‡		4.6		2.0		5.9		1.5	!	‡		‡		53.9		27.5		0.9	!	‡
$75,000–$94,999	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		6.5		‡		‡		‡		47.2		35.3		‡		‡
$95,000–$114,999	‡		‡		‡		‡		5.5	!	‡		3.5	!	‡		‡		‡		52.8		32.6		‡		‡
$115,000 or more	‡		‡		‡		‡		3.6		‡		1.4	!	‡		‡		‡		44.1		42.8		‡		‡

Principal highest degree
Bachelor's degree or less	‡		‡		2.7	!	‡		4.5	!	1.3	!	6.7		‡		‡		‡		50.4		31.8		‡		‡
Master's degree	‡		1.0	!	2.2		0.4	!	3.2		1.1		4.9		2.0		‡		‡		50.3		33.3		1.1	!	0.3	!
Educational specialist or professional diploma⁴	‡		‡		‡		‡		4.9	!	‡		2.8	!	‡		‡		‡		60.7		25.6		‡		‡
Doctorate or first professional degree	‡		‡		‡		‡		11.1		‡		2.5	!	‡		‡		‡		38.0		40.8		‡		‡

# Rounds to zero.

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 percent and 50 percent (i.e., the standard error is at least 30 percent and less than 50 percent of the estimate).

‡ Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable analysis, or the coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error is 50 percent or more of the estimate).

¹School level based on the definitions set by Common Core of Data (CCD). Elementary schools offer at least one grade of K through 4, and the number of elementary grades is at least as high as the number of middle grades. Middle schools offer at least one of grades 5 through 8, and the number of middle grades is greater than the number of elementary or secondary grades. Secondary/high schools are defined as schools that offer at least as many of grades 9 through 12 as lower grades. Combined/other schools include all other combinations of grades, including K–12 schools. These categories differ from past NTPS collections, so caution should be exercised when comparing estimates by level over time.

²School level based on low and high grades offered by the school. Primary schools offer at least one grade lower than 5 and no grade higher than 8. Middle schools offer no grade lower than 5 and no grade higher than 8. High schools offer no grade lower than 7 and at least one grade higher than 8. Combined schools offer at least one grade lower than 7 and at least one grade higher than 8. Schools with only ungraded classes were included with combined schools. These categories are provided because they are comparable to those used in previous NTPS publications.

³Schools that don’t participate in the free or reduced-price lunch program are included with the "0–34" percent category.

⁴At least 1 year beyond the master's level.

⁵School level based on low and high grades offered by the school. Elementary schools are those with any of grades K through 6 and none of grades 9 through 12. Secondary schools have any of grades 7 through 12 and none of grades K through 6. Combined schools are those schools with grade levels in both elementary and secondary grade levels, or with all students in ungraded classrooms. These categories are provided because they are comparable to those used in previous NTPS publications.

NOTE: Data are weighted estimates of the population. Hispanic includes Latino. Principals were asked whether they were male or female. Although this variable is labeled "sex," the questionnaire did not use the term "gender" or "sex." Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), "Public School Principal and Private School Principal Data Files," 2020–21.