SCHOOL HEADS' LEADERSHIP PRACTICES AND SCHOOL'S FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

School heads are the persons in authority who manage the school and are considered the pillars of the educational system. Along with their authority, they are accountable for the outcomes of the school operations, programs, and projects. This study aimed to examine the relationship between school heads' leadership practices and the financial management performance of schools in President Quirino Municipality. Specifically, it focused on the leadership dimensions of authority, accountability, and empowerment, and their influence on budget alignment, procurement processes, and the execution of school programs, projects, and activities. The study employed a descriptive-correlational research design, 64 teachers and 22 school heads as respondents. The findings revealed that the school heads' leadership practices were highly practiced, with a significant emphasis on authority, accountability, and empowerment. In terms of financial management performance, the schools were rated as outstanding, demonstrating exemplary practices in budgeting, procurement, and project management. A significant relationship between the school heads’ leadership practices and the schools’ performance in financial management, affirming the positive impact of effective leadership on the overall financial stability of the schools. These suggest that school heads who exhibit strong leadership in the areas of authority, accountability, and empowerment significantly enhance their schools' financial management performance.