Poll shows public satisfaction with US schools falls to 27-year low

The short version

• A poll by Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation shows satisfaction with U.S. schools dropped to 32%, with dissatisfaction reaching 67%.[Associated Press]
• The 11-point decline over two years marks the lowest level in 27 years of Gallup polling on the subject.[Associated Press]
• A partisan split drove the recent decline, with satisfaction falling 19 points among Democrats since 2025, while about two-thirds of parents remain satisfied with their own child's education.[Associated Press]

Key facts

• Only 32% of American adults report being satisfied with the U.S. school system, while dissatisfaction has reached 67%.[Associated Press]
• The 11-point decrease in satisfaction over the past two years represents the lowest point in 27 years of Gallup polling.[Associated Press]
• Satisfaction dropped by roughly 19 percentage points among Democrats since 2025, 10 points among Independents since 2024, and 6 points among Republicans.[Associated Press]
• Roughly two-thirds of parents with school-age children state they remain satisfied with their own child's education.[Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Americans’ satisfaction with schools is at a low point, new Gallup poll showsAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press