A large majority of Americans are dissatisfied with public education, according to an annual poll. But K12 leaders might take some solace that they’re not alone—Americans’ overall satisfaction level is stuck at a record low.
Gallup’s latest Mood of the Nation survey, conducted shortly before President Donald Trump returned to office in January, found satisfaction with 31 sectors of society at 38%—the same low recorded in each year of Joe Biden’s presidency.
“Given the timing of the survey, these results offer a baseline for evaluating whether Americans’ assessments of the country change during Trump’s second term, rather than reflecting his handling of the issues so far,” the poll’s authors noted.
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Satisfaction was slightly higher (41%) as Trump was finishing his first term in 2021. The number was even higher (48%) right before the COVID outbreak a year earlier.
Public education poll plunge
Only a quarter of Americans said they were satisfied with the quality of public education, which ranked near the bottom of the poll. It put education on par with Americans’ unflattering views on the influence of major corporations and the nation’s moral and ethical climate.
The dissatisfaction was also nonpartisan, with members of both parties sharing their dim views. Only 30% of Democrats and 16% of Republicans said they were satisfied with public education.
Some 37% of Americans said they were satisfied with public education as Trump replaced Barack Obama in 2017.
What are Americans satisfied with?
The Mood of the Nation poll showed a majority of Americans are satisfied with:
- Military strength and preparedness (63%)
- Overall quality of life (62%)
- Position of women in the nation (59%)
- Opportunity for a person to get ahead by working hard (53%)
- Acceptance of gays and lesbian people in the nation (51%)
Other sectors that the majority of those surveyed were unsatisfied with included federal taxes, the cost of healthcare, wealth distribution, abortion policy and crime.
