When West Middle School Principal Tim Corkery announced he would leave his position on Dec. 31 “to take a really big break,” parents took to Facebook to raise concerns about what they saw as a high turnover rate of leaders in Andover Public Schools.
Turns out Andover is not alone, with similar averages of principal turnover across Massachusetts and the nation. When three of the district’s 10 principals left last year, for example, the 70 percent retention rate was still higher than state average of 66.7 percent. In fact, Andover’s principal retention rate has exceeded state averages in all but one of the past five years.
“Overall, it is not uncommon for staff to make decisions to pursue new opportunities, make decisions based on their length of service, or to focus on their health or personal lives,” district spokesperson Nicole Kieser said. “APS is fortunate to have some of the best principals in the state, and we are grateful for the work they do on behalf of the district and their school communities.”
| Number Of Principals | Number Of Principals Retained | Percentage Retained | State Average | |
| 2024 | 10 | 7 | 70% | 66.7% |
| 2023 | 10 | 9 | 90% | 79.3% |
| 2022 | 10 | 10 | 100% | 85.5% |
| 2021 | 11 | 8 | 72.7% | 87.2% |
| 2020 | 10 | 9 | 90% | 84.6% |
Officials have been warning of a “looming mass exodus of principals” from the nation’s schools for the past five years. A study by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Learning Policy Institute attributed the high rate of turnover to several factors, including inadequate preparation and professional development, poor working conditions, low pay, a lack of decision-making authority, and high-stakes accountability policies.
Kieser could not discuss specific reasons for each principal’s departure because they are personnel matters. But notes sent to each school’s community by the departing principals gave a wide range of reasons for moving on, including two who left to attend to health issues. Other reasons included new professional opportunities and a move out of state.
Nationally, the principal retention rate is about 78 percent, with schools serving low-income students and students of color having the lowest rates.
“Among the principal characteristics most strongly associated with job stability is educational experience, including preparedness for the position as a result of preparation and/or in-service programs and having an advanced degree,” the report said. “Better prepared principals, including those who have had internships and/or mentors, are less stressed and stay longer, even if they are in high-need schools. Relatedly, some evidence suggests that principals who are viewed as more effective by teachers and supervisors are less likely to leave, unless they are promoted.”
Teacher retention rates were significantly higher. Andover’s average exceeded the state average in each of the last five years:
| Number Of Teachers | Number Of Teachers Retained | Percentage Retained | State Average | |
| 2024 | 482 | 440 | 91.3% | 85.8% |
| 2023 | 499 | 441 | 88.4% | 84.6% |
| 2022 | 498 | 447 | 89.8% | 86.8% |
| 2021 | 497 | 456 | 91.8% | 88.4% |
| 2020 | 485 | 441 | 90.9% | 87.7% |