Americans’ satisfaction with K-12 schools is sinking
Image: Gallup
If roles were somewhat reversed and Americans were grading the country’s schools, there’d be some explaining to do at parent-teacher conferences.
Satisfaction with the quality of K-12 education in America has fallen to its lowest point in 27 years of polling on the topic, driven by a particularly sharp decline over the past two years.
By the numbers
Two-thirds of US adults are completely dissatisfied (31%) or somewhat dissatisfied (36%) with the quality of K-12 education, according to a new Gallup/Walton Family Foundation poll published Monday.
- Among the other one-third of Americans, 24% are somewhat satisfied while just 8% are completely satisfied.
- Overall, Americans’ satisfaction in education has fallen by 11 percentage points since 2024.
There are several particular issues: A lack of teaching basic skills is one of the most cited problems, along with inadequate school funding or resources, and poor educational quality.
College readiness is another pain point, with just 32% of Americans saying schools do a good or excellent job getting students ready for college, with average SAT scores falling across the board—even as high school GPAs are climbing.
The outlook gets even worse when work enters the picture. Only 21% of Americans say K-12 schools do a good or excellent job preparing students for the workforce, and just 20% give them high marks for teaching critical thinking and problem-solving.
Both political parties are souring
Democrats are behind much of the recent shift in satisfaction with K-12 education, with rates falling 19 percentage points since President Trump returned to office in early 2025. But Independents (-10 points) and Republicans (-6 points) have also seen significant dips in confidence over that period, as the Trump admin has moved to begin dismantling the Department of Education.
- The Covid pandemic and its associated school closures, learning setbacks, and mental-health challenges also hangs over the longer-term trend.
- National test scores have continued to drop in the years since, particularly in reading, while pandemic-inspired learning measures have launched a national debate over screentime usage in school.
Dissatisfaction isn’t limited to polling. Some prominent colleges are putting standardized tests back into the admissions equation after dropping requirements during the pandemic. They include MIT, Dartmouth, and MIT, while 1,100+ University of California math and science professors are pushing the system to bring entrance exams back amid a recent surge in unprepared students.
📊 Flash poll: Overall, how satisfied are you with the quality of education K-12 students receive in the US today?
See a 360° view of what pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that falling test scores expose real problems in public education, but focusing more heavily on high-stakes testing overlooks the broader reasons students are struggling, including a need for practical skills, stronger connections to their communities, and a greater sense that what they learn actually matters in their lives.
- Others contend that Massachusetts is failing to reverse pandemic-era learning losses because billions in additional education funding have not translated into meaningful academic progress, showing that schools need stronger oversight and a greater focus on proven strategies that actually help students catch up.
- “I Thought ‘No Child Left Behind’ Would Fix Public Schools. I Was Wrong.” –Ross Wiener, NY Times
- “Massachusetts is failing its students if it can’t boost MCAS scores” –Boston Globe Editorial Board
- “K-12 educators, the new UW president would like a word” –Seattle Times Editorial Board
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that falling test scores reflect years of schools lowering academic expectations and weakening accountability, allowing more students to graduate without mastering basic reading and math skills. They say it underscores the need to restore higher standards that better prepare students for college and the workforce.
- Others contend that America’s public schools are not facing the sweeping crisis that critics describe, with most students actually performing at levels comparable to other developed countries and schools providing broader social and civic benefits beyond test scores. They also say critics who make alarmist claims about widespread failure of US schools are doing even more damage.
- “Another K-12 Education Disaster” –WSJ Editorial Board
- “We don’t have an education crisis in America” –Perry Bacon Jr., WaPo
- “When it comes to K-12 education, Illinois families deserve high standards and proven policies” –Bruce Rauner, Chicago Tribune
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