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Given a superintendent’s role in shaping academic outcomes, managing budgets and leading district strategic planning, it is reasonable to expect compensation to be linked to the district’s size, wealth or student performance, experts say. But the data tells a different story.

A Tribune analysis of 2024 salaries found that at least 18 suburban superintendents in Illinois received higher compensation than former Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez despite overseeing significantly smaller districts. Collectively, these 18 superintendents oversee 117 schools serving 76,000 students — roughly 600 fewer schools and 230,000 fewer students than Martinez.

Use our searchable database to see school district superintendent salaries in 2024, including total compensat

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