Updated 07/14/2025
Education administrators at the elementary and secondary levels face many of the same challenges. Funding reductions, lagging enrollments, and other factors are impacting public school budgets nationwide,1 and it’s up to school administrators to figure out how to do more with less. In this article, we will explore the key responsibilities of education administrators and the ways these roles differ in primary and secondary education.
What Is an Education Administrator?
Education administrators oversee and coordinate academic and tertiary activities within elementary through secondary schools. They are responsible for ensuring that curriculum meets state and federal benchmarks, as well as measuring achievement. Considering the importance of this role, it’s no wonder that administrative roles in schools are in demand among primary and secondary learning institutions, and attaining an educational leadership degree* serves as a stepping stone for a variety of these positions.
Elementary and secondary school principal positions are similar when you look at the big picture, but there are some key differences between primary and secondary school principals. Let’s explore some of the major differences between primary and secondary education administrators.
Behavior Management and Discipline
Behavior management is a vital task for educators at every level. Teachers and principals alike work hard to create a safe and distraction-free learning environment that facilitates academic success for students. Discipline tends to be a more serious task for administrators at the secondary level. This is largely due to the fact that older students tend to test boundaries more vigorously, while also acquiring more freedoms. This combination makes it easier for middle and high school students to make poor choices with far-reaching consequences.
Parent Communication and Involvement
Elementary-aged children are still learning what it means to be successful students. They require more coaching, assistance, and feedback than middle and high school students. Parents of children in elementary schools tend to spend more time communicating with teachers than the parents of older children. This is also true for elementary administrators, especially when it comes to addressing behavior, discipline, and academic performance. Parent involvement and engagement, at least with respect to the parent-principal relationship, are less typical at the middle and high school levels than at the elementary school level.
Student Populations
In many parts of the country, elementary schools tend to be smaller than high schools. As a result, secondary principals may have more students under their supervision than principals at elementary schools.2 The difference can be partially explained by the fact that young children require more constant supervision, repetition, and reinforcement than older students.
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Shared Duties and Responsibilities
The truth is that primary and secondary education administrators are similar in more ways than they are different. Although the school environments and student populations vary, principals at all levels are ultimately concerned with the same outcomes—better teaching and better learning. Effective primary and secondary administrators share a number of key responsibilities, including:
- Closing the achievement gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students
- Creating a healthy school environment in which learning is at the center of all daily activities
- Improving the quality of teaching and learning
- Leading and influencing staff members to achieve the school’s goals
Primary and Secondary Administration Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 20,800 job openings for elementary, middle, and high school principals* each year from 2023 to 2033. The median annual salary for these positions was $104,070 in May 2024.3 According to Salary.com, 66 percent of school principals have at least a master’s degree,4 so going back to school can make you a more competitive job candidate for primary and secondary education administration positions across the country.
No matter which level of education administration you choose to pursue, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s online M.A. in Educational Leadership can move you toward your goal. The program’s in-depth curriculum will prepare you to lead and make a difference in the lives of students at the elementary, middle, or high school level. In most states, a graduate-level school leadership degree is needed to qualify for an administrative license.*
Check out the “How Educators Use Technology and Data to Guide Teaching and Learning” free eBook.
Sources and Disclaimer
- Morabito, C. CNBC. “U.S. public schools brace for ‘fiscal cliff’ after surge in hiring meets budget shortfalls.” April 22, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2025, from https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/22/enrollment-decline-hits-school-funding-triggers-cuts.html.
- MDR Education. “How Many Schools Are in the U.S.?” March 26, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2025, from https://mdreducation.com/how-many-schools-are-in-the-u-s/.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals.” April 18, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/elementary-middle-and-high-school-principals.htm.
- Salary.com. “School Principal.” n.d. Retrieved May 20, 2025, from https://www.salary.com/research/job-description/benchmark/school-principal-job-description.
*This is not a licensure preparation program for K-12 administrative licensure. If you are looking to become a Principal, Director of Special Education, or Superintendent in Minnesota, the completion of an education-related master’s program allows you to enter the Saint Mary’s Ed.S. in Educational Administration to complete coursework and field experience in preparation for licensure. If you are looking to become a K-12 public school administrator in another state, it is your responsibility to check with the administrative licensing body in your state for specific licensure preparation requirements.
