Public Satisfaction With U.S. K-12 Education Hits Record Low

Public satisfaction with U.S. K-12 education has dropped to a record low of 32%, according to an August 2026 Walton Family Foundation/Gallup poll.

Dissatisfaction has reached a record high of 67%, with respondents citing a lack of teaching basic skills as a primary concern for both Republicans and independents.

While 66% of parents remain satisfied with their own child's education, this figure also represents a new low, edging out the previous 2013 record by one percentage point.