Philadelphia Principals Remain Deeply Committed Despite Facing Significant Challenges
First-of-its-kind survey reveals what school leaders need to strengthen educator effectiveness, improve principal retention, and accelerate student success.
PHILADELPHIA, PA [July 30, 2026] — More than four in five Philadelphia principals (84%) report being satisfied in their current leadership role, and nearly two-thirds (64%) believe the city’s schools are moving in the right direction, according to a new citywide survey released today by Elevate 215 on behalf of the Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition. Despite this optimism, principals identified significant challenges related to staffing, workload, resources, and leadership support.
“Principals are among the most influential leaders in Philadelphia education. They shape school culture, help recruit, develop, and retain effective teachers, and are second only to classroom teachers in their impact on student achievement,” said Scott Gaiber, Deputy Chief of Talent Initiatives for Elevate 215 and lead convenor of the Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition. “Understanding their experiences is essential to ensuring our education community provides principals with the support they need to strengthen schools and improve student outcomes.”
To better understand the strengths and challenges of the current principal experience in Philadelphia, Elevate 215 commissioned the survey on behalf of the Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition. Conducted independently by Embold Research, the survey gathered responses from 135 district and charter school principals, providing the first citywide look at their experiences, challenges, priorities, and career pathways.
Key Findings
- Principals are dedicated and experienced leaders, not only in education but in Philadelphia specifically. Most principals (92%) have spent more than a decade serving in Philadelphia public education.
- There is optimism and satisfaction across many aspects of the role, although experiences vary across principal groups. The largest gaps in satisfaction were related to access to adequate resources (23% of district principals compared to 80% of charter principals) and school facilities (34% compared to 83%).
- Principals face a wide range of challenges, including staff shortages, workload demands, and access to funding. Staff shortages emerged as the top challenge for charter principals (43%) and principals overall (42%), while district principals most frequently identified available funding as their greatest challenge (47%).
- Most principals feel they could be better supported in efforts to recruit and retain effective and diverse teaching staff. Limited applicant pools and insufficient candidate preparation were the most common barriers.
- Principals enter school leadership through diverse pathways but share common motivations for taking on the role. Respondents reported a wide variety of career journeys and preparation programs, with nearly 30 different institutions and programs represented. Despite these diverse pathways, nearly two-thirds (65%) of principals overall said a desire to make a positive impact on their communities was the primary motivation for becoming a school leader.
- Most principals have considered leaving, and they generally agree on the incentives to keep them in the role. Two-thirds (66%) have considered leaving the profession, while increased funding for schools, higher salaries, and reduced workloads emerged as the strongest incentives for retaining principals.
“Principals play a vital role in shaping the success of our schools, yet we haven't always had a comprehensive understanding of the challenges they face every day,” said Dr. Penny Nixon, Superintendent of Schools for Universal Education Companies, and Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition Steering Committee. “These survey results provide our education ecosystem with a much clearer picture of principals' experiences and an important foundation for identifying practical ways to better meet their needs.”
Building on the Findings
The survey findings will help inform the next phase of the Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition’s efforts to better understand the strengths, challenges, and opportunities among the city’s principal workforce. The multi-phase initiative begins with this citywide survey and will continue with a comprehensive landscape assessment and the development of a cross-sector strategy focused on principal recruitment, preparation, development, support, and retention. Together, this work will help identify opportunities to strengthen the systems, policies, and practices that support educators across Philadelphia.
“We are grateful to every principal who shared their voice through this survey,” said Dr. Michael Farrell, Chief Academic Officer for the School District of Philadelphia and Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition Steering Committee. “Their perspectives reinforce the deep commitment that principals have to their schools, even as they face significant challenges. Now it's up to all of us—school systems, civic leaders, and education partners—to work together to create the conditions that allow principals to thrive.”
Learn More
Philadelphia Citywide Principal Survey Resources:
Educators, policymakers, researchers, and community partners are encouraged to review the findings and join the ongoing effort to strengthen school leadership across Philadelphia. To join this work, contact Scott Gaiber, Deputy Chief of Talent Initiatives at Elevate 215.