Education Ministry figures show women have almost closed the gender gap in school leadership, with nearly as many female principals as men.
But the other gender divide in teaching - the dominance of women teachers in the workforce - has increased.
Ten years ago 41 percent of state and integrated school principals were women. Now it is 49 percent, with 1172 female principals and just over 12606 males when measured as full-time equivalents.
The number, and percentage, of women teachers has also increased, from 70 percent of the teaching workforce in 2004, to 72 percent this year.
Ministry figures show 15 percent of principals and 10 percent of teachers are Maori, up from 11 percent of principals and 9 percent of teachers in 2004.
