Education Action Group Foundation, a nonprofit group, found that principals at IPS's five struggling high schools all make salaries of at least $100,000 in the 2009-2010 school year, 6News' Kara Kenney reported.

According to the foundation, Elizabeth Owens at Emmerich Manual High School earned $100,000; Jethroe Knazzle at Arlington Community High School made $107,000; Lawrence Yarrell at Northwest High School was paid $105,000; Stephanie Nixon at Thomas Carr Howe High School earned $102,000; and Deborah Leser at George Washington Community High School made $101,000.

"Each principal received pay increases in 2009-10 ranging from 3 percent to 14 percent," said foundation spokesman Kyle Olson. "It goes to the point that things are out of whack, that we're on an unsustainable course in school spending, and it needs to change."

IPS cut $26 million from its budget earlier this year, including teaching positions.

Superintendent Eugene White has blamed administrators for struggling schools in the past, but defended the salaries of his high school principals.

"All of the administrators who are compensated in our district deserve their salaries," said White, who added that the district has to offer competitive salaries in order to keep good administrators. "It's important to stay competitive because you want to get the best people."

White said the foundation is singling out IPS and said that other districts in Marion County offer similar salaries.

"We're going to have to cut millions of dollars from our 2011 budget. We want the public to have the perception, but we want people to tell the truth about it," he said. "The salaries of IPS school administrators are in line."

White also pointed out that, starting this school year, the district has new criteria which will allow administrators to get a raise based on performance.

Olson said the foundation planned to look into other districts as well.

6News sent information on administrator salaries to school board members, who said Friday they are currently reviewing the information.