16 Sep EdSource: More Women Are Now Leading U.S. School Districts, Study Says

Cheryl Cotton, the new superintendent of the West Contra Costa Unified School District, holds a photo of her first grade class, which was taught by her mother, a teacher in the district for 42 years. (Louis Freedberg / EdSource)

By Diana Lambert
EdSource

This year, women hold one-third of the school superintendent’s jobs in the U.S., according to a study released by the ILO Group’s Superintendent’s Research Project on Monday.

Half of all superintendents appointed to the top job in the largest 100 school districts were women, according to the report. Despite that, at the current pace of change, it will take almost 30 years before there are as many women serving as superintendents as men, according to the study.

In the western United States, 37% of the superintendents are women — up from 30% last year. The highest percentage of female superintendents is in the Northeastern part of the country, with 46%. The number decreased from 54% from last year. The Southeast has the lowest percentage of female superintendents, with 22%.

Female superintendents are more likely than male superintendents to have a doctoral degree or to have been promoted from a deputy or interim superintendent.

In contrast, 53% of state superintendents this year are female, up from 47% last year.

The ILO Group is an education strategy and policy firm.