Leadership role
Head of School / Principal
Directs the educational program and operations of a school.
Reporting and scope
The head of an independent school reports to the board of trustees. A principal of a charter or parochial school may report to a board, a network leader or a diocese. Authority covers the whole school.
Core responsibilities
- Leads curriculum, instruction and teacher evaluation
- Hires, supports and retains faculty and other employees
- Oversees enrollment, tuition setting and financial aid
- Works with the board on budget, strategy and campus planning
- Leads fundraising and parent relations, especially at independent schools
- Maintains accreditation, state requirements and student safety policies
How it differs
The Academic Director oversees curriculum under the head. The Director of Admissions runs enrollment. A Provost / Academic VP is the chief academic officer of a college or university, not a K-12 school.
By organization size
In a small school the head may teach and handle admissions. At large independent schools the head leads division heads and a senior team and spends much time on fundraising and the board.
Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: Head of School; Principal; Superintendent; Headmaster; School Principal; Assistant Principal
See what this role pays
Median reported total compensation, nationally: $165,000. Based on 26,955 IRS Form 990 filings, fiscal years 2021–2025.
This median spans organizations of every budget size and sector, so it will not match a benchmark for one organization.
State pay pages for this role: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington.
Benchmark pay for this role