An analysis of school district leadership in the nation’s 500 largest school districts reveals that Superintendent turnover is slowing:
In 2025-26, 87 of the nation’s 500 largest school districts (17.4%) changed superintendents, the lowest annual turnover ILO Group has recorded since before the pandemic and returning to pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, the pandemic has taken a meaningful toll on leadership in the top 500 districts: only 78 leaders who were in their seats in March of 2020 remain in their position today.
Since March 13, 2020, these 500 districts have changed superintendents 745 times and only 78 have not changed at all.
One of the 78 “remainers” is Nashville’s Adrienne Battle, who assumed her role in 2019.
