- One national poll indicates growing discontent with America's K-12 schools.
- Opinions are split on who's to blame for the dissatisfaction with primary and secondary schools.
- Surveyed parents have more positive things to say about K-12 schools than those without kids in the classroom.
Americans have grown dissatisfied over the past several years with the nation’s colleges and universities.
Now that same “meh” education feeling apparently extends to the nation’s K-12 schools.
A national Gallup poll released Monday reveals that less than a third of Americans are satisfied with the quality of education students are receiving in kindergarten through 12th grade in the United States.
That “satisfaction” poll figure — 32% — is reportedly the lowest in Gallup’s 27-year trend, and it’s down 11% over the past two years.
Meanwhile, respondents expressing “completely/somewhat dissatisfied” feelings with the quality of America’s K-12 education has risen to a record high 67%.
“We’ve had a drumbeat of bad news about test scores and other social trends that could be driving this,” Sarah Reckhow, a political science professor at Michigan State University who specializes in public policy told The Associated Press.
“There’s a ton of debate, discussion and noise about technology and AI in education,” she said. And recently, kids’ screen time at school has dominated education headlines locally and nationally.
Jack Schneider, director of the Center for Education Policy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, blamed the Trump administration for contributing to the erosion of public confidence by depicting schools as political battlegrounds and moving to dismantle the Education Department.
“It’s terrifying. We’re on the precipice of the dissolution of the public education system as we have known it,” Schneider said in The Associated Press report.
Democrats, he said, are also particularly concerned by Trump’s signature school choice program that will use taxpayer-supported scholarships to pay for kids’ private school tuition.
But the Trump administration asserts its actions are restoring confidence in the nation’s K-12 schools.
At a recent back-to-school event, the president said his administration is removing far-left extremism “to ensure that every child in America has access to a first-class education.”
Trump also hailed the passage of the education freedom tax credit that was part of last year’s Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The school choice-friendly education freedom tax credit allows taxpayers to receive a credit of up to $1,700 for contributions made to a Scholarship Granting Organization.
The president added his administration has presided over “the largest ever expansion” of school choice — “and we want every parent to have the power to send their child to a high-quality school that shares their values.”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon salutes Trump’s initiatives to “return to common sense in American education,” adding that the poor national school performances recorded during the Biden administration prompted Trump to demand a “hard reset” of the education system.
“This school year,” she added, “American parents and students have so much to be excited about because the Trump administration is steering education back to its rightful focus: serving students so that they are prepared for successful futures.”
Gallup senior education researcher Zach Hrynowski told The Associated Press that the findings highlight a frustration with institutions more broadly.
“People have a general negative vibe about everything in the country right now,” Hrynowski said. “People are frustrated, and don’t think any institution is working particularly well.”
K-12 parents more bullish on schools than others
Gallup interviewed 1,200 adults in August living in all 50 states and the District of Columbia matching the national demographics including gender, age, race, Hispanic ethnicity, education and political party affiliation.
When asked “how satisfied” they are with the quality of education K-12 students are receiving in the United States, 32% reported some level of satisfaction.
But 36% were “somewhat dissatisfied” and 31% were “completely dissatisfied.”
The number of respondents in 2026 feeling some level of satisfaction in the quality of education in the nation’s K-12 schools is down 3 percentage points from 2025.
Over a 27-year period, satisfaction rates gathered by Gallup peaked at 53% in 2004.
But what about the actual parents of K-12 students included in the Gallup survey?
Their satisfaction numbers were significantly higher. Two-thirds — 66% — reported feeling “completely” or “somewhat” satisfied with the quality of education that their “oldest child” is receiving.
But that’s still almost 10 points below last year’s “satisfaction” rate among parents, reported Gallup.
Meanwhile, Americans have differing levels of satisfaction in the country’s K-12 schools across gender, race, education levels, political party affiliation and household income demographics.
While just over a third — 34% — of female survey respondents expressed satisfaction, only 30% of males shared their feelings.
More than a third of non-white respondents report feeling satisfied. That’s almost 10 points higher than white respondents.
And while 37% of respondents who did not attend college are satisfied with K-12 schools at some level, only 30% of college graduates reported satisfaction.
Just over a third of polled Democrats are satisfied with the nation’s K-12 schools — but that’s still 10 points higher than Republican respondents, at 25%.
But Gallup analysts noted that while Democrats have often expressed higher satisfaction than Republicans with K-12 education dating back to 1999, Democrats are largely driving the recent drops in satisfaction. Since 2024, satisfaction among Democrats has fallen by 19 points, including by seven percentage points over the past year.
There’s also a notable satisfaction gap between income levels. More than a third of respondents with a household income less than $50,000 are satisfied — 13 points higher than those making more than $100,000.
Poll: What are U.S. K-12 schools doing right? What needs improvement?
A separate Gallup-based online survey in August asked Americans specific questions on how well K-12 schools are doing on issues such as preparing students for college and the workplace, along with preparing for key skills regarding technology and problem-solving.
Respondents were generally bullish about how well schools are preparing students to adapt to emerging technologies such as AI and preparing students for college.
The numbers were far less positive regarding how well K-12 schools are preparing students to think critically and solve problems.
Once again, the respondents with children attending school are more positive about K-12 schools than others without enrolled kids.
Parents’ ratings in all specific areas — including preparing students to adapt to new technologies and future college studies — were higher than respondents who do not have a child in school
Utah’s K-12 education chief: How to build confidence in schools
Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction Molly Hart responded Tuesday to the Gallup poll, saying national data reflecting declining public satisfaction highlights a reality: Trust in education must be continuously earned.
“While this poll is national rather than specific to Utah, the concerns it raises about critical thinking and workforce alignment are vital for education leaders everywhere to address,” said Hart in a statement to the Deseret News.
In Utah, Hart added, educators “are tackling these challenges head-on” by pairing technological innovation “with a rigorous focus on critical thinking.”
The superintendent highlighted several USBE efforts:
Integrating Technology Thoughtfully: “We are equipping educators with the guidance to help students navigate emerging tools and AI ethically and effectively as engines for learning.”
Prioritizing Critical Thinking: “Our standards are built to move past rote memorization, challenging students to analyze complex information and solve real-world problems.”
Bridging Classroom and Career: “Through our robust career and technical education (CTE) pathways and industry partnerships, we ensure students gain the exact skills needed to thrive in evolving modern industries.”
Confidence in education, observed Hart, is rebuilt locally “by supporting teachers, partnering with families, and keeping our focus entirely on student outcomes.”