High School Principals: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of high school principals about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for high school principals to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of high school principals expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for high school principals.
What Education & Experience is Needed for High School Principals?
Do high school principals need a degree? What kind of experience do high school principals typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for high school principals to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for High School Principals
Jobs Postings for High School Principals By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 29,878 (30%)
- Master's degree: 27,252 (27%)
- No Education Listed: 24,590 (24%)
- High School or GED: 13,289 (13%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 5,828 (6%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of high school principals. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 30% of positions. In 27% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 24% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for High School Principals
Jobs Postings for High School Principals By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 6,595 (15%)
- 2-3 Years: 18,505 (42%)
- 4-6 Years: 12,092 (28%)
- 7-9 Years: 3,109 (7%)
- 10+ Years: 3,591 (8%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for high school principals. In 42% of job postings for High School Principals, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 15% of job postings for high school principals.
What Kind of Degree Do High School Principals Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for high school principals, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 19 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective high school principals, and in 2023 a total of 164,553 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective high school principals.
Top Degree Programs for High School Principals
Top 5 Degree Programs for High School Principals (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Elementary Education and Teaching. | 41,427 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration, General. | 31,028 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 30,483 |
| Education, General. | 27,685 |
| Secondary Education and Teaching. | 10,879 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Elementary Education and Teaching. | 41,427 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration, General. | 31,028 |
| Early Childhood Education and Teaching. | 30,483 |
| Education, General. | 27,685 |
| Secondary Education and Teaching. | 10,879 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other. | 6,310 |
| Education, Other. | 4,643 |
| Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching. | 3,017 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other. | 2,396 |
| Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision. | 1,612 |
| Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship. | 1,278 |
| Superintendency and Educational System Administration. | 1,225 |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education. | 959 |
| Educational Evaluation and Research. | 610 |
| Secondary School Administration/Principalship. | 403 |
| International and Comparative Education. | 317 |
| Administration of Special Education. | 185 |
| Early Childhood Program Administration. | 78 |
| International School Administration/Leadership. | 18 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for High School Principals
Become a more relevant and responsive leader with a 100% online Ed.D. in PK-12 Leadership from Franklin. This 3-year program will help you become a visionary leader ready to solve the learning, technology and cultural challenges facing PK-12 districts and schools.
- Years To Complete: 3
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
Make a difference for children and families with an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a focus in K-12 Building-Level Leadership. The streamlined, online program, aligned with National Education Leadership Preparation Program standards, can be completed in 12 months.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Satisfy the requirements to sit for Ohio’s principal licensure exam and earn your M.Ed. with Franklin’s 12-month online principal licensure program.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Design, develop and implement effective solutions to develop knowledge and improve performance for learners in a variety of settings.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 16
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do High School Principals Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by high school principals to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for high school principals, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's High School Principals
Based on 81,657 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for High School Principals
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Student Services | 8,905 | 11% |
| Special Education | 7,179 | 9% |
| Curriculum Development | 6,863 | 8% |
| Project Management | 5,218 | 6% |
| Lesson Planning | 4,357 | 5% |
Top 5 Common Skills for High School Principals
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,608 | 44% |
| Leadership | 30,925 | 38% |
| Teaching | 25,049 | 31% |
| Management | 23,943 | 29% |
| Planning | 19,914 | 24% |
Based on 81,657 job postings related to high school principals, student services was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 11% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for special education, curriculum development, project management, lesson planning and data analysis were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for high school principals, followed by leadership, teaching, management, planning and operations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Student Services | 8,905 | 11% |
| Special Education | 7,179 | 9% |
| Curriculum Development | 6,863 | 8% |
| Project Management | 5,218 | 6% |
| Lesson Planning | 4,357 | 5% |
| Data Analysis | 4,340 | 5% |
| Marketing | 4,332 | 5% |
| Classroom Management | 3,951 | 5% |
| Office Equipment | 3,722 | 5% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 3,695 | 5% |
| Child Development | 3,537 | 4% |
| Educational Administration | 3,492 | 4% |
| Public Relations | 3,315 | 4% |
| Preschool Education | 3,256 | 4% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 3,229 | 4% |
| Effective Communication | 3,180 | 4% |
| Accounting | 3,123 | 4% |
| Finance | 3,089 | 4% |
| Auditing | 3,083 | 4% |
| Student Information Systems | 3,038 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,608 | 44% |
| Leadership | 30,925 | 38% |
| Teaching | 25,049 | 31% |
| Management | 23,943 | 29% |
| Planning | 19,914 | 24% |
| Operations | 19,403 | 24% |
| Writing | 14,246 | 17% |
| Coordinating | 12,846 | 16% |
| Research | 11,527 | 14% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 11,375 | 14% |
| Problem Solving | 11,257 | 14% |
| Customer Service | 9,969 | 12% |
| Coaching | 8,850 | 11% |
| Scheduling | 8,349 | 10% |
| Organizational Skills | 8,103 | 10% |
| Administrative Functions | 7,662 | 9% |
| Presentations | 6,822 | 8% |
| Innovation | 6,773 | 8% |
| English Language | 6,600 | 8% |
| Mentorship | 6,561 | 8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about high school principals? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for high school principals.
What do high school principals do?
How much do high school principals make?
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