If asked to grade their school on overall quality and their relationship with teachers, students would give their schools a B, according to new research.
For the first time since the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup first administered the survey in 2023, students’ evaluation of their school improved from a B-. Additionally, the share of students rating their schools a C or lower fell to 29%, down from 36% last year.
Students also gave higher grades for both the quality of teaching they received and their relationships with teachers, with average ratings improving from a B- to a B. Schools also received A grades in how well they’re teaching skills that are relevant to students’ futures.
“It’s heartening to see signs of progress, especially in how students are experiencing their relationships with teachers,” said Romy Drucker, education program director at the Walton Family Foundation.
This year’s report reveals strong gains in students’ positive feelings about classroom engagement, innovative use of technology and future readiness. Students gave the highest grades to how they are being prepared by their teachers for the coming school year, academic success and college.
As for parents, their overall ratings of their child’s school rose from 3.02 to 3.13, a B average according to both figures. The researchers suggest that this slight increase may reflect growing confidence in how schools are communicating and preparing students for life after high school.
However, across all metrics, the research argues that many students and parents feel underwhelmed by how their schools are performing and that more can be done to improve the grades.
“While many may view a B or B- as acceptable, we must continue striving for excellence until students and parents feel their education is truly worthy of an A,” said Stephanie Marken, senior partner at Gallup.
Read the full report here to learn more.
