What Do High School Assistant Principals Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for high school assistant principals?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what high school assistant principals do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
High School Assistant Principals Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about high school assistant principals by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
High School Assistant Principals plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.
Popular Job Titles For High School Assistant Principals
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Assistant Principals
- Principals
- High School Assistant Principals
- School Principals
- Elementary School Principals
- Elementary Principals
- Principal Engineers
- Middle School Principals
- Lead Teachers
- High School Principals
- Middle School Assistant Principals
- Elementary Assistant Principals
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for high school assistant principals can be found.
Best Industries for High School Assistant Principals
High School Assistant Principals Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 75.1%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 21.7%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 0.9%
- Religious Organizations: 0.7%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 0.6%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 0.3%
- Other: 0.70000000000001%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of high school assistant principals can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2023, about 75.1% of all jobs for high school assistant principals were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Elementary and Secondary Schools (21.7%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (0.9%), Religious Organizations (0.7%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (0.6%) and Management of Companies and Enterprises (0.3%).
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What Do High School Assistant Principals Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what high school assistant principals do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work high school assistant principals do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that high school assistant principals tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for high school assistant principals, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's High School Assistant Principals
Based on 81,657 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for High School Assistant 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 Assistant 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 assistant 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 assistant 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% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for High School Assistant Principals
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Principals | 9,867 | 15.3% |
| Principals | 10,292 | 15.9% |
| High School Assistant Principals | 4,795 | 7.4% |
| School Principals | 3,086 | 4.8% |
| Elementary School Principals | 2,895 | 4.5% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was assistant principals, with 3,995 unique job postings. Principals were second, with 2,075 postings, followed by high school assistant principals, school principals and elementary school principals.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to high school assistant principals.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Principals | 9,867 | 15.3% |
| Principals | 10,292 | 15.9% |
| High School Assistant Principals | 4,795 | 7.4% |
| School Principals | 3,086 | 4.8% |
| Elementary School Principals | 2,895 | 4.5% |
| Elementary Principals | 2,533 | 3.9% |
| Principal Engineers | 3,397 | 5.3% |
| Middle School Principals | 2,485 | 3.8% |
| Lead Teachers | 4,674 | 7.2% |
| High School Principals | 2,465 | 3.8% |
| Middle School Assistant Principals | 2,134 | 3.3% |
| Elementary Assistant Principals | 2,447 | 3.8% |
| Superintendents | 2,057 | 3.2% |
| Assistant Directors | 2,313 | 3.6% |
| Athletic Directors | 1,361 | 2.1% |
| Student Services Specialists | 2,123 | 3.3% |
| Teachers | 1,981 | 3.1% |
| Elementary School Assistant Principals | 1,349 | 2.1% |
| Assistant Superintendents | 1,161 | 1.8% |
| Student Success Coordinators | 1,227 | 1.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for high school assistant principals? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for high school assistant principals.
How much do high school assistant principals make?
High School Assistant Principals: How do you become one?
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