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School principal vs high school assistant principal

The differences between school principals and high school assistant principals can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a school principal and a high school assistant principal. Additionally, a school principal has an average salary of $97,138, which is higher than the $91,217 average annual salary of a high school assistant principal.

The top three skills for a school principal include professional development, curriculum development and student achievement. The most important skills for a high school assistant principal are professional development, curriculum development, and professional growth.

School principal vs high school assistant principal overview

School PrincipalHigh School Assistant Principal
Yearly salary$97,138$91,217
Hourly rate$46.70$43.85
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs60,09363,376
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

What does a school principal do?

A School Principal supervises and directs education and teaching programs within a school. They develop and implement policies, programs, curriculum activities, budgets, and more.

What does a high school assistant principal do?

The High School Assistant Principal handles the educational growth of all enrolled students. They provide help to the principal in all administrative duties and molds students' behavior. Included in the tasks are instilling discipline in the youth and readying them to face the world upon graduation. Other tasks are organizing activities, instructor and teacher scheduling, subject, and other extracurricular activities. It is also the Assistant Principal's job to take the helm once the principal is absent or unable to perform duties.

School principal vs high school assistant principal salary

School principals and high school assistant principals have different pay scales, as shown below.

School PrincipalHigh School Assistant Principal
Average salary$97,138$91,217
Salary rangeBetween $71,000 And $131,000Between $61,000 And $136,000
Highest paying CityNewark, NJNovato, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyNew Jersey
Best paying companyLexington School and Center for the DeafSweetwater Union High School District
Best paying industryNon ProfitsEducation

Differences between school principal and high school assistant principal education

There are a few differences between a school principal and a high school assistant principal in terms of educational background:

School PrincipalHigh School Assistant Principal
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorEducational LeadershipEducational Leadership
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

School principal vs high school assistant principal demographics

Here are the differences between school principals' and high school assistant principals' demographics:

School PrincipalHigh School Assistant Principal
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 44.6% Female, 55.4%Male, 67.4% Female, 32.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 4.4% White, 64.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 4.3% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between school principal and high school assistant principal duties and responsibilities

School principal example responsibilities.

  • Lead school in partnership with local high school to promote higher math, science and technology achievement.
  • Create a PBIS system for teachers on how to manage behavior on a daily basis and reward positive outcomes.
  • Train volunteers to reach kids for Christ.
  • Experience with the Scott Foresman mathematics series for second grade.
  • Interview and hire summer school teaching staff in grades Pre-K through 5thgrade.
  • Design and implement the district's transition to``all-day kindergarten".
  • Show more

High school assistant principal example 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.
  • Result in international interest in available ESL programs.

School principal vs high school assistant principal skills

Common school principal skills
  • Professional Development, 12%
  • Curriculum Development, 8%
  • Student Achievement, 6%
  • Professional Growth, 5%
  • Student Learning, 5%
  • School Administration, 4%
Common high school assistant principal skills
  • Professional Development, 9%
  • Curriculum Development, 7%
  • Professional Growth, 6%
  • Instructional Program, 6%
  • Support Services, 5%
  • Student Discipline, 5%

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