Superintendents say their jobs feel less stressful in 2025 compared to recent years, according to a new RAND Corporation survey. But the relief is uneven, and many leaders—especially in smaller districts—are questioning whether the role is worth it.

  • 208 superintendents responded to RAND’s spring survey, representing small (<3,000 students), medium, and large (≥10,000 students) districts.
  • 68% cited district budgets as a top source of stress in 2025—virtually unchanged from 2024.
  • 47% of small-district superintendents said the job is still “worth it,” down from 57% last year.
  • 72% of large-district leaders said the same, a steady result from 2024.

Stress Drivers Diverge

  • Small districts: Budgets remain the biggest source of stress. But these leaders reported improvements across nearly every other category, from staffing shortages to educator mental health.
  • Large districts: Leaders flagged political intrusion as the most pressing challenge. Stress related to budgets, accountability, and teacher mental health also ticked up.

How They Spend Their Time

Superintendents across district sizes say they want to focus on instruction, data, and family engagement. Instead, small-district leaders spend the most time on facilities and budgets; large-district leaders devote the most time to school board communication.

RAND found wide gaps between how superintendents actually spend their days and how they believe they should.

The Bigger Picture

  • AASA data show the superintendency is getting younger: just 10% of leaders are now 60 or older, compared to 19% in 2012.
  • Salaries averaged $169,343 in 2024–25, a modest increase from the year before—but still trailing inflation over the past decade.

Why it Matters

The survey underscores a growing mismatch between priorities and practice: superintendents want to focus on teaching and learning, but external pressures keep them tied up in budgets, facilities, and politics. The drop in small-district leaders who say the job is worth it highlights potential leadership pipeline risks, especially outside major metros. [K-12 Dive] 

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