National Association of Elementary School Principals

What National Association of Elementary School Principals does

The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) is a private, nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1921 and headquartered at 1615 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia. NAESP is the only national association dedicated exclusively to serving elementary and middle-level principals who represent 35 million children in pre-K through grade 8 across the United States, Canada, and overseas. The organization operates through a federated model with state affiliate organizations in all 50 states, plus international association partnerships (Tri-Association), and is governed by an elected board of directors.

NAESP's product and service portfolio spans four pillars: (1) professional learning programs including the Pre-K-3 Leadership Academy, the National Mentor Training and Certification Program, NAESP Mastermind Groups, and the Aspiring School Leaders Network; (2) publications including the award-winning bimonthly Principal Magazine, the Communicator and Principal Insights newsletters, ebooks, webinars, and podcasts; (3) recognition programs including National Distinguished Principal, National Outstanding Assistant Principal, and the inaugural National Gold Star School program; and (4) student programs such as the American Student Council Association (ASCA), the President's Education Awards Program (PEAP), and the National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS, co-administered with NASSP). Membership tiers include Active, Institutional Active, Assistant Principal, Emeritus, Aspiring Principal, Associate, and International Associate categories. The NAESP Foundation (founded 1982) functions as the charitable and grant-receiving arm.

The business model is a recurring-revenue membership association with diversified income: annual membership dues, conference and exhibit revenue (anchored by the National School Leaders Conference held July 13-15, 2026 in Orlando), publication advertising, and a tiered corporate sponsorship program (Lysol at President level, Lifetouch at Diamond, Landscape Structures at Platinum, plus Silver partners). Technology infrastructure consists of website, email, and digital publishing platforms; no AI/ML capabilities are indicated. Strategic research and policy work is funded through partnerships including The Wallace Foundation (Principal Evaluation Research and Policy Initiative with WestEd).

Name

National Association of Elementary School Principals

Legal name

National Association of Elementary School Principals

Website

https://naesp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NAESP is a 100-year-old nonprofit professional membership association serving elementary and middle-level principals across all 50 U.S. states, Canada, and overseas, providing professional learning, publications, recognition programs, advocacy, and an annual National School Leaders Conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Leadership & Cabinet Administration (EDADAKAA)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• School leadership development
• Education professional learning
• Principal advocacy services
• Education membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: NAESP generates revenue through various membership types including Active, Institutional Active, Assistant Principal, Emeritus, Aspiring Principal, Associate, and International Associate memberships. Membership provides access to publications, professional learning, advocacy services, and networking.
2. Conference and Events: The National School Leaders Conference and annual conference generate revenue through registration fees, exhibit fees, and sponsorships.
3. Publications and Resources: Revenue from Principal Magazine advertising, Principal Insights newsletter, ebooks, and resource materials.
4. Sponsorships and Advertising: Strategic partners sponsor programs and advertising opportunities. Career Center recruitment advertising generates additional revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NAESP is a private, nonprofit professional membership association that serves elementary and middle-level school principals across the United States. It delivers value through tiered membership (Active, Institutional Active, Assistant Principal, Emeritus, Aspiring, Associate, International), produces award-winning publications such as Principal Magazine and the Communicator newsletter, hosts the annual National School Leaders Conference, runs professional learning programs (Pre-K-3 Leadership Academy, National Mentor Training and Certification Program, Mastermind Groups), operates recognition programs (National Distinguished Principal, National Outstanding Assistant Principal, National Gold Star School), and provides advocacy at the federal level for the principal profession.

Product overview

NAESP offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services organized around professional learning, publications, recognition programs, student programs, and member benefits. The core offerings include the award-winning Principal Magazine and Communicator newsletter, alongside professional development programs such as the Pre-K-3 Leadership Academy, National Mentor Training and Certification Program, and Mastermind Groups. NAESP operates community networks including the Aspiring School Leaders Network, Assistant Principal Community of Practice, and various affinity networks (Principals of Color, Latino+, LGBTQIA+). Recognition programs include the National Distinguished Principal Program, National Outstanding Assistant Principal Program, and National Gold Star School Program. Student-focused offerings through ASCA support student councils and leadership development. Membership benefits include Legal Benefits, Career Center, and various discounts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Principal Magazine NAESP's award-winning bimonthly magazine developed specifically for elementary and middle-level principals, featuring articles on educational leadership, policy, and best practices.
• Communicator Newsletter Monthly newsletter providing the latest resources, news, and professional development content for school leaders.
• APs Rising Publication dedicated to elevating the work and professional development of assistant principals.
• New Principal Navigator Resource guide designed to support principals during their first years on the job with practical guidance and tools.
• Beyond the Bell Publication focusing on strategies for family and community engagement in schools.
• Leading Lessons Guide series designed to help leadership teams succeed through practical frameworks and implementation tools.
• Webinars and Videos On-demand professional development content including webinars, video presentations, and conference recordings.
• Leadership Conversations Podcast Audio program featuring insightful conversations from peers and thought leaders in education.
• Research and Reports Research-based publications and reports that inform the principal profession and support evidence-based decision-making.
• Ebooks Curated digital collections designed for easy reading on various devices.
• Principal Insights Newsletter Newsletter aggregating top stories from leading news media and industry publications for school leaders.
• National School Leaders Conference Annual flagship conference bringing together elementary and middle-level principals for professional development, networking, and advocacy training (held July 13-15, 2026 in Orlando, Florida).
• Pre-K-3 Leadership Academy Award-winning professional learning program focused on leadership development for early childhood education through grade 3.
• National Mentor Training and Certification Program Program that trains and certifies mentors to support new and aspiring principals.
• NAESP Mastermind Groups Peer-based professional learning groups where principals collaborate and share expertise.
• NAESP Centers for Advancing Leadership Specialized centers focused on advancing leadership practices across various focus areas.
• Aspiring School Leaders Network Community designed to support educators transitioning from classroom to principal roles.
• Principals of Color Network Affinity group providing support and professional connections for principals of color.
• The NAESP Latino+ Network Network providing safe space and growth opportunities for Latino+ school leaders.
• NAESP LGBTQIA+ Network Inclusive network supporting LGBTQIA+ school leaders within NAESP membership.
• National Distinguished Principal Program Program recognizing outstanding elementary and middle-level principals.
• National Outstanding Assistant Principal Program Program honoring exceptional assistant principals who demonstrate leadership excellence.
• National Gold Star School Program Program distinguishing schools demonstrating excellence in education (inaugural year 2026 with 57 schools recognized).
• American Student Council Association (ASCA) Program supporting student councils and leadership development for elementary and middle school students, including Student Council School of Excellence Awards and Exemplary Advisor Awards.
• President's Education Awards Program (PEAP) Awards program recognizing students' academic achievements.
• American Citizenship Award (ACA) Award recognizing students demonstrating outstanding citizenship.
• National Elementary Honors Society (NEHS) Honor society recognizing elementary students for academic achievement and personal responsibility, established in partnership with NASSP.
• Career Center Job board and recruiting platform for principals, assistant principals, and education leaders.
• Legal Benefits Legal support services and resources for members.
• National School Leaders Conference App Mobile application launched to support attendees of the 2026 National School Leaders Conference with schedules, navigation, and engagement features.

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered president, diamond, platinum, silver, core and minor.

• LysolpresidentStrategic or Co-development PartnerLysol is President-level strategic partner through the HERE for Healthy Schools Initiative, which helps curb the spread of illness in schools. Lysol committed to expanding into every Title I school in the U.S., reaching 15 million children.
• LifetouchdiamondStrategic or Co-development PartnerLifetouch is Diamond-level partner and leader in school photography and yearbooks, providing solutions for school branding, safety, and fundraising.
• Landscape StructuresplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape Structures is Platinum-level partner and leading manufacturer of commercial playground equipment, committed to enhancing children's lives through play for over 40 years.
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free KidssilverStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver-level partner supporting NAESP's mission to protect children's health.
• Forrest T. Jones & CompanysilverStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver-level partner providing insurance and financial services for education professionals.
• Harmony InspiresilverStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver-level partner supporting social-emotional learning and educational initiatives.
• The Wallace FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAESP partners with The Wallace Foundation to disseminate research-based insights into school leadership and how to improve public schools, especially those serving disadvantaged children. Wallace Foundation funding supports Principal Evaluation Research and Policy Initiative.
• WestEdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NAESP Foundation and WestEd launched Principal Evaluation Research and Policy Initiative, generously funded by grants from The Wallace Foundation.
• American Institutes for ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted focus groups for the Leaders We Need Now research series examining impact of 2020-2021 crises on the principal profession.
• National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASSP partnered with NAESP in 2008 to establish the National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) for elementary student recognition.
• Tri-AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational association representing American Schools of Central America, Colombia-Caribbean and Mexico for NAESP international members.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Learning Forward: Learning Forward is a professional association focused on educator professional learning. Comparable to NAESP as a dues- and conference-funded membership association that delivers PD content, standards, and certification programs to school leaders and instructional staff.
• ASCD: ASCD is a broad educator professional association providing publications, conferences, and professional learning across K-12 leadership and instruction. Comparable to NAESP in that it sells memberships, conferences, and publications to school leaders and curriculum-focused educators, partially overlapping the elementary/middle-level principal audience.
• PDK International: PDK International is an association of educators that offers memberships, publications (Kappan), and research-based programs to K-12 educators and leaders. Comparable to NAESP in mission and revenue model, but with broader educator and researcher membership rather than principal-specific focus.
• AASA (American Association of School Administrators): AASA is the national association representing school superintendents and central-office administrators. Directly comparable as a national K-12 education leadership membership association with similar dues, conferences, advocacy, and publication revenue model, but addressing the district-level executive tier rather than building principals.
• National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP): NASSP is the sister national association serving secondary school principals, with a parallel membership, advocacy, and conference model. Directly comparable as both organizations serve school building leaders under the principal member-based association structure, and they jointly operate the National Elementary Honor Society.
• Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE): AMLE specializes in middle-level education research and professional development and already offers reciprocal membership with NAESP (per NAESP's Membership page). Comparable as a membership association serving the same middle-level principal audience with overlapping publications, conferences, and PD programs.

Emerging players

• Teach For America: Teach For America recruits and trains educators for high-need schools and increasingly develops alumni into school leadership. Comparable to NAESP at the talent-pipeline intersection (potential future principals feed membership), though it operates a corps/leadership development model rather than a paid membership association.
• National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS): NBPTS is a nonprofit that certifies accomplished teachers through a national board certification process. Comparable to NAESP as an education credentialing and recognition organization, but with a teacher (rather than principal) focus and a fee-for-certification revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• National Education Association (NEA): NEA is the largest U.S. educator employee organization, representing teachers and education staff and operating at national, state, and local levels. Comparable to NAESP as a national membership association serving the K-12 education workforce with dues, advocacy, and conferences, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO): CCSSO is the nationwide nonprofit representing state school chiefs and their agencies. Comparable to NAESP as a national K-12 leadership association with federal advocacy and publications, but addresses the state-agency tier above district and building leadership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/naesp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/naesponline
• Facebookfacebook.com/naesp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1028114
• Instagraminstagram.com/thenaesp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Association of Elementary School Principals