Elementary School Principal Jobs
Elementary School Principal jobs are open across public K-8 districts, charter networks, and private schools, at every level from assistant principal to district-level leadership, with specializations in curriculum leadership, special education administration, and early childhood program oversight. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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General Description:
Directs a Chesterfield County School at the elementary school level to include administration of instructional and operational programs and activities. Directs a staff of professional and support instructional personnel. Work is performed under broad policies and established objectives; incumbent independently interprets policies; decisions and actions impact the entire system. Contacts are regularly and frequently made at all organizational levels within and outside the school system to execute and explain programs and policies.Job Description:
Essential Job Functions :
Serves as instructional leader; uses data to lead the school efforts in achieving high academic performance of all students; provides an environment that maximizes the learning potential of all students and employees.
Analyzes and interprets data to determine instructional focus of the school; ensures programs and strategies are in place for enrichment and remediation services for all students.
Serves as chief administrator. Provides leadership and direction to assistant principals, teachers and support staff. Coordinates curriculum development with Instructional Services, administrators, specialists, and teachers. Communicates division wide policy, procedures, and guidelines to school staff.
Evaluates program effectiveness and efficiency. Prepares regular reports for presentation to the Director of Elementary Education related to the elementary school instructional program and the operations of the school.
Evaluates staff according to School Board policy.
Provides ongoing staff development relative to Board vision and mission, school goals, and SIP initiatives.
Interprets School Board policies, procedures, and guidelines to parents and public. Ensures compliance with existing applicable federal and state statute, policies and guidelines related to public schools and in particular the operation of programs for the academically talented and special education. Directs full complement of extracurricular programs to include athletic, performing arts and academic activities.
Works in collaboration with the Department of Instructional Technology in providing appropriate technology opportunities to enhance student learning.
Coordinates with the Director and Human Resources Department staffing needs; recommends staffing changes; participates in the recruitment, selection, and assignment of the elementary staff.
Responsible for budget preparation. Monitors school and activity fund budget status throughout the year.
Represents school division at meetings, conferences, hearings, community and civic public forums; gathers citizen and parental input.
Works with the Office of Student Conduct to analyze data on student conduct and to resolve student, school, and district issues regarding student discipline.
Works with committees of teachers, other principals and lay persons in specific programs, projects, or courses of action. Demonstrates commitment to improving professional competence.
Assesses student learning on an ongoing basis and alters instruction to meet group/individual needs.
Uses the curriculum of the district to plan daily instructional activities.
May perform other duties as assigned.
Budgetary Responsibility :
Responsible for budget preparation. Monitors school and activity fund budget status throughout the year.
Report Preparation :
Responsible for submitting regular reports to the Director on issues related to school education programs and operations.
Equipment Operation :
Proficient with computer and technology program operations.
Contacts :
Works with all levels of CCPS personnel, parents and community and outside agencies.
Work Direction :
Provides work direction to teachers and staff in assigned school.
Supervision :
Supervises teachers and staff in assigned school.
Decision Making :
High level of independent decision-making is required.
Formal Policy-Setting Responsibilities :
May provide input or recommendations related to policy changes.
Physical Demands :
The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to find, reach with hands and arms, handle paper files, records, computer and equipment controls and talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop or kneel. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment :
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in a public school setting. The noise level is quite to moderate.
Qualifications:
Additional Job Requirements:
Masters degree in administration; eligibility for Virginia Post Graduate license with appropriate administration endorsement; experience in teaching and in school administration; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Applicants considered for employment must successfully complete the following background investigations/tests:
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal History Investigation
State Police Criminal History Investigation
Child Protective Services (CPS) Investigation
Tuberculosis Screening/Test
Compensation
$114,523.16 - $184,549.87Hours Per Day
8Days Per Year
260Benefits
Chesterfield County Public Schools offers a wide variety of benefits to employees. Benefit offerings may differ based upon full-time and part-time employee status.
Chesterfield County Public Schools assures Equal Employment Opportunities for employees as required by Federal and State Orders and Laws. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks. This job description is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements. However, administration reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position and does not imply an employment contract.
Elementary School Principal Jobs by Experience Level
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in elementary school principal jobs.
- Valid state principal or administrator licensure or certification required
- Master's degree in educational leadership, administration, or a related field
- Minimum three to five years of classroom teaching experience
- Experience with instructional leadership, curriculum development, and teacher evaluation
- Demonstrated ability to analyze student performance data and drive improvement
- Strong knowledge of special education law, IEP processes, and inclusive practices
Tips for Your Elementary School Principal Job Search
Tailor your resume to district priorities
Principals hired today are expected to lead data-driven instruction and improve standardized test outcomes. Quantify your impact with concrete school-level results, such as attendance improvements or reading proficiency gains, rather than listing generic leadership duties.
Highlight your state administrator license
Most districts filter applications automatically for the correct state-issued principal or administrator license. Confirm your license type appears clearly at the top of your resume, and check whether the posting requires endorsements for specific grade bands like pre-K or K-6.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists elementary school principal openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Search by district size and student demographics
Your experience leading a high-poverty urban school reads very differently to a small suburban district, and vice versa. Filter openings by enrollment size and Title I status so your background aligns with the community the role actually serves.
Prepare a leadership philosophy statement
Many elementary principal applications require a written leadership philosophy before the first interview. Draft a concise, school-specific version in advance that names your instructional framework and approach to family engagement, so you're not writing it the night before the deadline.
Negotiate beyond the base contract
Public school principal contracts often include negotiable elements outside the salary schedule, such as professional development funding, mentorship stipends, and transition timelines. Review the full contract before accepting and ask HR which terms are open for discussion.
Elementary School Principal Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most elementary school principals?
The companies hiring the most elementary school principals right now include Alabama State Department of Education, Loudoun County Public Schools, and Jefferson County Public Schools, KY, with the largest share of openings in Texas, Virginia, and Illinois, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Charter management organizations and large urban public districts tend to post the highest volume of openings throughout the year.
How many elementary school principal jobs are remote?
About 0% of elementary school principal openings are fully remote or hybrid as of August 2026, which is low compared to most professional roles because on-site leadership is central to the job. The sub-areas most likely to allow remote or hybrid work include district-level curriculum director positions and virtual or hybrid school leadership roles.
How do you become an elementary school principal?
You typically start by earning a teaching license and spending several years in the classroom, then complete a master's degree in educational leadership or administration. Most states then require you to pass a principal licensure exam and complete a supervised internship or residency. After licensure, candidates typically move into assistant principal or instructional coach roles before applying for a principal position.
Can you get hired as an elementary school principal with little experience?
It's uncommon to be hired directly as a principal without prior school leadership experience, but some districts use a pipeline approach for high-potential teachers. Roles like assistant principal, instructional coach, or department chair are the most direct paths in. Smaller rural districts and growing charter networks are more likely to consider candidates who are completing their administrator licensure concurrently with their first appointment.
What does the elementary school principal interview process look like?
Most districts use a multi-round process starting with an HR screening call, followed by a panel interview with district administrators, teachers, and sometimes parents or community members. Finalists are often asked to complete a written case study or deliver a mock staff meeting. The full process from application to offer typically runs several weeks and may include a school walkthrough or informal visit.
Where can I find and apply to elementary school principal jobs?
You can find and apply to elementary school principal jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the listings to find roles that match your licensure, experience level, and preferred location, then apply directly to each one that fits.
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