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What is a high school assistant principal and how to become one
A high school assistant principal, also referred to as a vice-principal, is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities of a school. As the right hand of the principal, they help ensure the safety and wellbeing of the student body, as well as the school's compliance with federal and local regulations.
The duties of a high school assistant principal vary, but in general, they typically include attending PTA meetings, facilitating faculty meetings, enforcing attendance rules, hiring staff, helping teachers develop curriculums, maintaining school safety procedures, and coordinating school activities. As you would expect, this role requires constant interaction with students, teaching staff, administrators, parents, and other personnel in the school.
Like principals, assistant principals also need to have a master's degree or doctorate to qualify for the position, as this level of education is a typical requirement for a school administration license. Aside from that, schools also require assistant principals to have extensive experience in teaching, which may range from a minimum of three to five years.
High school assistant principals make an average of $101,000. Considering the number of years and amount of experience it takes to attain this position, a six-figure salary comes as no surprise.
What general advice would you give to a high school assistant principal?
Dr. Dwan Robinson PhD
Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, Ohio University
I would suggest that our graduates seek opportunities where there is growth potential and future career opportunities for advancing in educational leadership.
I would encourage them to explore positions where they have the chance to impact the organization with the educational leadership and related expertise that they have cultivated.
I would also suggest that graduates reflect on how their expertise and experiences connect with the various roles and pathways that they are seeking in education so that they can imagine what their trajectories might be in the careers that they aspire to in the field of education.
Avg. Salary $91,217
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.70%
Asian 4.33%
Black or African American 12.22%
Hispanic or Latino 14.06%
Unknown 4.00%
White 64.70%
Genderfemale 32.62%
male 67.38%
Age - 47American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 47Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
High school assistant principal career paths
Key steps to become a high school assistant principal
Explore high school assistant principal education requirements
Start to develop specific high school assistant principal skills
Skills Percentages Professional Development 8.60% Curriculum Development 7.49% Professional Growth 6.35% Instructional Program 6.23% Support Services 5.29% Complete relevant high school assistant principal training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New high school assistant principals learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a high school assistant principal based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real high school assistant principal resumes.Research high school assistant principal duties and responsibilities
- Facilitate teacher lead PBIS committee to implement effective school wide discipline campaigns and activities for students.
- Co-Design kindergarten readiness program that will bring in-home and wrap around services to academically at-risk kindergarten students.
- Provide effective oversight of the distribution and accuracy of report cards, course credits and transcripts.
- Provide oversight for all content areas, with special focus on history, math, and special education.
Prepare your high school assistant principal resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your high school assistant principal resume.
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Apply for high school assistant principal jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a high school assistant principal job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
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Average high school assistant principal salary
The average high school assistant principal salary in the United States is $91,217 per year or $44 per hour. High school assistant principal salaries range between $61,000 and $136,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do high school assistant principals rate their job?
High school assistant principal reviews
Working with children, teachers and parents. Developing programs to suit a child's needs and interests, mmoments in learning and understanding.
Pressure from parents, pressure from the board, stressful and time demanding obstacles. The fact that people treat you so utterly poorly once you become a Principal.
Updated January 8, 2025
