The vast majority of independent school heads are hired from other institutions. The following data from a select number of states and associations validates this point.
Data for specific states/regions:
- Florida: 102 head transitions out of about 160 schools in the past five years (some schools twice); 19 were internal hires.
- Georgia: 122 head transitions out of 158 schools in the past five years; eight were internal hires.
- Tennessee: 27 head transitions out of 59 schools in the past five years; all were external hires.
- North Carolina: 74 head transitions out of about 90 schools in the past five years; seven were internal hires. In this same time period, several schools went with interims and several others experienced multiple head transitions.
- Northwest Association of Independent Schools: 60 new heads out of about 115 schools in the past five years; no data on internal vs. external.
- Connecticut: 45 head transitions out of about 100 schools; 18 were internal hires. All of these 18 are still in place; not so for the others.