PDK Poll of Public’s Attitudes Toward Public Schools: Local public school ratings rise, even as the teaching profession loses ground

Abstract

Americans’ ratings of their community’s public schools reached a new high dating back 48 years in this year’s PDK Poll of Public Attitudes Toward the Public Schools, while fewer than ever express interest in having their child work as a public school teacher. Results of the 54th annual PDK poll tell a tale of conflicted views of public schools — local ratings are at nearly a five-decade high, a majority have trust and confidence in teachers, yet there’s also wide recognition that the challenges they face make their jobs broadly undesirable.