This study determined the financial management competence, the stakeholder engagement capacity, and the annual performance rating of school heads as these relate to the strategic competitive practices of secondary schools in Laguna. The research design used in this study was of the descriptive type. This was coupled with correlational research design. Hence, this is a descriptive-quantitative study where a survey questionnaire, administered in person and via digital means, was utilized as the primary data gathering instrument. The major findings of this study are the following. The school heads' financial management competence has a partially significant relationship to the school heads? annual performance rating for three consecutive years. Moreover, the school heads? stakeholder engagement capacity was also observed to have a partial significant relationship to the school heads? annual performance rating. The school heads? financial management competence was also found to have a partial significant relationship to the school heads? stakeholder engagement capacity. Hence, the null hypothesis was partially rejected. The school heads' stakeholder engagement capacity was also found to have an influence in the schools' strategic competitive indicators. Moreover, the performance rating of school heads was discovered to have an effect on the level of School-Based Management of schools. Lastly, the monetary/nonmonetary equivalent support elicited from stakeholders was also revealed to have an influence on the number of enrollments.

strategic competitive practices

annual rating

stakeholder engagement capacity

financial management competence