Women more likely than men to be promoted from within to school superintendent roles

Women are more likely than men to rise from within to the school district superintendent’s office, according to a new analysis of the nation’s 500 largest school districts. Overall, 56% of female superintendents had already worked in their district before taking the top job, compared with 50% of male superintendents. Among women promoted from within, 51% served as interim superintendent before getting the job permanently, compared with 43% of men, according to the ILO Group’s 2026 Superintendent Research Project. Women make up 55% of interim superintendents currently leading school districts. Overall, women hold 34% of superintendent positions, while 53% of state education chiefs are women.