Parents and other Americans are increasingly unhappy with the state of U.S. public education, according to newly released Gallup polling. Just 32% of American adults said they were satisfied with the country’s K-12 education system, an 11-point drop since 2024 and the lowest level recorded in 27 years.
At the same time, 67% expressed dissatisfaction, the highest level recorded by the survey. The numbers may sound especially alarming, but parents of school-age children were considerably more positive, with about two-thirds saying they were satisfied with their own child’s education.
The disconnect suggests that parents can be concerned about the national education system while feeling relatively good about the school their own child attends. Still, the overall decline raises questions about what is driving America’s growing frustration with public schools.
Why Are Parents Unhappy With Public Schools?
Academic performance appears to be one major concern. The latest polling points to disappointing national test results, particularly in reading and math, while only about 20% of adults believe schools are doing a good or excellent job preparing students for today’s workforce.
Parents and other adults also have concerns about whether schools are adequately preparing children for college, careers and an increasingly technology-driven world. Political disagreements over curriculum, classroom issues and the role of schools in children’s lives have added another layer to the debate.
The result is a growing lack of confidence in an institution that families depend on. As education policy expert Jack Schneider told Fortune, “When people weigh in about the nation’s schools, what they are commenting on are 98,999 schools that they haven’t set foot in.”
Could Homeschooling Be a Better Alternative?
For families considering leaving public school, homeschooling offers some appealing advantages. It allows parents to customize lessons around a child’s interests and pace, create a flexible schedule and provide more individualized attention.
But homeschooling also requires a significant commitment from parents. Families must handle lesson planning and instruction, while also finding ways to provide social opportunities, extracurricular activities and access to resources that public schools routinely offer.
Public schools, meanwhile, provide certified teachers, structured schedules, specialized programs and daily opportunities for children to interact with peers. Homeschooling can offer greater flexibility and personalization, but it isn’t necessarily an easier or universally better option.
For parents weighing the choice, the most important question may not be whether homeschooling is better than public school overall. Instead, families should consider which educational environment best fits their child’s academic, social and emotional needs.
