The Managerial Success of Principals in Improving School Quality in Peripheral Areas

The disparity in educational quality between urban and peripheral schools highlights the importance of effective managerial leadership in optimizing school management. This study aims to analyze the managerial success of principals in improving school quality in peripheral areas through the management functions implemented in school administration. The research method used is qualitative, data were collected through observations and interviews with one principals, four vice principals, and five teachers so that the number of participants is ten people, this research was conducted in the suburbs of Aceh province in 2025 to 2026. The findings indicate that school quality improvement in peripheral areas is achieved through visionary leadership in planning school programs, participatory leadership in coordination and communication, and continuous evaluation of program implementation. This study concludes that improving school quality in peripheral areas depends not only on the availability of facilities and infrastructure but also on principals' managerial capabilities to optimize school management. School quality improvement is influenced by the synergy between physical resources and the managerial competence of principals in planning, coordinating, and continuously evaluating all school programs. The study recommends strengthening principals’ managerial capacity by integrating planning, coordination, and evaluation functions to enhance school effectiveness and quality. The contribution of this research shows that the selected principal must have a deeper and broader knowledge capacity than his subordinates so that the solution can be present.