Public confidence in U.S. K-12 schools hits historic low, poll finds
Only 32% of American adults say they are satisfied with the quality of K-12 education, the lowest level recorded in Gallup’s 27-year history.
An August Gallup survey, conducted with the Walton Family Foundation, indicates that just 32% of U.S. adults are “completely” or “somewhat” satisfied with the nation’s K-12 schools, marking the lowest point in the poll’s 27-year run. Dissatisfaction climbed to 67%, reflecting an 11-point decline over the past two years. The drop is most pronounced among Democrats, whose satisfaction fell about 19 points since the start of the Trump administration in 2025, with smaller declines among independents and Republicans.
Analysts attribute the erosion of confidence to political framing of schools as battlegrounds, the administration’s school-choice initiatives, and the lingering impact of pandemic-related learning setbacks, including falling test scores. While parents of school-age children remain more optimistic—about two-thirds express satisfaction—the overall public mood mirrors broader frustration with institutions. The poll’s margins of error range from ±3.0 to ±8.3 percentage points depending on the sample.
Why it matters
Public trust in schools influences policy decisions, funding, and future workforce readiness.
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