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Quality of Education
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Section 1

Grading the Schools

Community
Question 1: Students are often given the grades of A, B, C, D, and FAIL to denote the quality of their work. Suppose the public schools themselves, in your community, were graded in the same way. What grade would you give the public schools here -- A, B, C, D, or FAIL? (Asked in: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017.)
[Code: 506-QuaGC-1]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
2017
49
15
34
24
11
6
10
2016
48
13
35
28
10
7
7
2015
51
13
38
31
9
4
4
2014
50
12
38
31
11
6
1
2013
53
13
40
29
11
4
3
2012
48
12
36
31
13
4
4
2011
51
14
37
32
11
5
2
2010
49
11
38
33
11
5
2
2009
51
10
41
32
11
3
3
2008
46
12
34
30
11
5
8
2007
45
9
36
34
14
5
2
2006
49
13
36
32
9
5
5
2005
48
12
36
29
9
5
9
2004
47
13
34
33
10
4
6
2003
48
11
37
31
10
5
6
2002
47
10
37
34
10
3
6
2001
51
11
40
30
8
5
6
2000
47
11
36
35
8
3
7
1999
49
11
38
31
9
5
6
1998
46
10
36
31
9
5
9
1997
46
10
36
32
11
6
5
1996
43
8
35
34
11
6
6
1995
41
8
33
37
12
5
5
1994
44
9
35
30
14
7
5
1993
47
10
37
31
11
4
7
1992
40
9
31
33
12
5
10
1991
42
10
32
33
10
5
10
1990
41
8
33
34
12
5
8
1989
43
8
35
33
11
4
9
1988
40
9
31
34
10
4
12
1987
43
12
31
30
9
4
14
1986
41
11
30
28
11
5
15
1985
43
9
34
30
10
4
13
1984
42
10
32
35
11
4
8
1983
31
6
25
32
13
7
17
1982
37
8
29
33
14
5
11
1981
36
9
27
34
13
7
10
1980
35
10
25
29
12
6
18
1979
34
8
26
30
11
7
18
1978
36
9
27
30
11
8
15
1977
37
11
26
28
11
5
19
1976
42
13
29
28
10
6
14
1975
43
13
30
28
9
7
13
1974
48
18
30
21
6
5
20

 

Neighborhood Schools
Question 2: How about the public schools attended by children from your neighborhood? What grade would you give them -- A, B, C, D, or FAIL? (Asked in: 1994, 1995.)
[Code: 505-QuaGN-2]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
1995
48
12
36
30
9
4
9
1994
50
12
38
30
9
6
5

Nation's Schools
Question 3: How about the public schools in the nation as a whole? What grade would you give the public schools nationally -- A, B, C, D, or FAIL? (Asked in: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017.)
[Code: 519-QuaGN-3]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
2017
24
4
20
41
16
7
13
2016
24
4
20
41
20
7
8
2015
21
3
18
50
19
7
4
2014
17
1
16
51
19
10
3
2013
19
1
18
53
19
6
3
2012
19
1
18
47
23
7
4
2011
17
1
16
51
23
7
3
2010
18
1
17
53
20
6
3
2009
19
1
18
55
19
6
1
2008
22
3
19
44
13
5
16
2007
16
2
14
57
18
5
4
2006
21
2
19
51
14
3
11
2005
24
2
22
46
13
4
13
2004
26
2
24
45
13
4
12
2003
26
2
24
52
12
3
7
2002
24
2
22
47
13
3
13
2001
23
2
21
51
14
5
7
2000
20
2
18
47
14
5
14
1999
24
2
22
46
16
4
10
1998
18
1
17
49
15
5
13
1997
22
2
20
48
15
6
9
1996
21
1
20
46
18
5
10
1995
20
2
18
50
17
4
9
1994
22
2
20
49
17
6
6
1993
19
2
17
48
17
4
12
1992
18
2
16
48
18
4
12
1991
21
2
19
47
13
5
14
1990
21
2
19
49
16
4
12
1989
22
2
20
47
15
4
10
1988
23
3
20
48
13
3
13
1987
26
4
22
44
11
2
17
1986
28
3
25
41
10
5
16
1985
27
3
24
43
12
3
15
1984
25
2
23
49
11
4
11
1983
19
2
17
38
16
6
21
1982
22
2
20
44
15
4
15
1981
20
2
18
43
15
6
16

School Oldest Child Attends
Question 4: Using the A, B, C, D, FAIL scale again, what grade would you give the school your oldest child attends? (Asked in: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017.)
[Code: 522-QuaGO-1]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
2017 Parents with children in school only
72
35
37
16
6
4
3
2016 Public school parents only
70
30
41
20
4
5
1
2015 Public school parents only
72
28
44
22
4
2
-
2014 Public school parents only
67
27
40
14
14
5
0
2013 Public school parents only
71
36
35
23
4
1
0
2012 Public school parents only
77
37
40
16
6
0
1
2011 All parents
79
37
42
17
3
1
2
2011 Public school parents only
75
33
43
20
3
1
0
2010 All parents
77
36
41
18
5
1
1
2010 Public school parents only
74
31
43
21
5
1
1
2009 All Parents
74
31
43
17
6
2
1
2009 Public school parents only
73
27
46
19
6
2
1
2008 All parents
72
30
42
14
5
4
5
2008 Public school parents only
68
25
42
16
6
5
5
Responses for 2007 and all prior years are from public school parents only
2007
67
19
48
24
5
3
1
2006
64
26
38
24
5
4
3
2005
69
31
38
21
6
4
-
2004
70
24
46
16
8
4
2
2003
68
29
39
20
8
4
-
2002
71
27
44
20
6
2
1
2001
68
28
40
22
6
3
1
2000
70
26
44
21
5
2
2
1999
66
24
42
21
7
5
1
1998
62
22
40
25
8
3
2
1997
64
26
38
23
7
4
2
1996
66
23
43
22
6
5
1
1995
65
27
38
23
8
3
1
1994
70
28
42
22
6
1
1
1993
72
27
45
18
5
2
3
1992
64
22
42
24
6
4
2
1991
73
29
44
21
2
4
-
1990
72
27
45
19
5
2
2
1989
71
25
46
19
5
1
4
1988
70
22
48
22
3
2
3
1987
69
28
41
20
5
2
4
1986
65
28
37
26
4
2
3
1985
71
23
48
19
5
2
3

Elementary Schools
Question 5: How about the public elementary schools in this community? What grade would you give them? (Asked in: 1981, 1987, 2007.)
[Code: 507-QuaGE-5]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
2007
61
18
43
27
5
5
2
1987
52
16
36
22
4
3
19
1981
46
13
33
27
7
5
15

High Schools
Question 6: How about the public high schools in this community? What grade would you give them? (Asked in: 1981, 1987, 2007.)
[Code: 513-QuaGH-6]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
2007
47
13
34
29
14
7
3
1987
40
11
29
26
9
4
21
1981
32
7
25
31
15
9
13

 

Nonpublic Schools
Question 7: What grade would you give the nonpublic schools in your community -- that is, the private and church-related schools -- A, B, C, D, or FAIL? (Asked in: 1996.)
[Code: 521-QuaGN-7]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
1996
63
19
44
14
2
1
20


Question 8: How about the nonpublic schools in the nation as a whole. What grade would you give them? (Asked in: 1996.)
[Code: 520-QuaGN-8]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
1996
57
12
45
19
2
1
21

Topic: Teachers
Question 9: What grade would you give the teachers in the public schools in this community -- A, B, C, D, or FAIL? (Asked in: 1981, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2011.)
[Code: 534-QuaGT-9]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
2011
69
27
42
21
5
2
3
1987
49
15
34
25
6
3
17
1985
49
12
37
26
7
3
15
1984
50
13
37
31
7
3
9
1981
39
11
28
31
9
6
15

 

Elementary Teachers
Question 10: What grade would you give the public elementary school teachers in this community? (Asked in: 1987, 1990.)
[Code: 508-QuaGE-10]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
1990
58
18
40
21
6
3
12
1987
53
18
35
21
4
2
20

High School Teachers
Question 11: What grade would you give the public high school teachers in this community? (Asked in: 1987, 1990.)
[Code: 512-QuaGH-11]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
1990
43
8
35
28
10
4
15
1987
43
12
31
24
8
3
22

 

Public School Principals/Administrators
Question 12: What grade would you give the principals and administrators in the public schools in this community? (Asked in: 1984, 1987, 2011.)
[Code: 528-QuaGP-12]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
2011
54
16
38
27
11
5
4
1987
43
14
29
27
9
3
18
1984
47
13
34
29
8
5
11

 

Local Elementary Principals/Administrators
Question 13: How about the local elementary school principals and administrators? (Asked in: 1987.)
[Code: 517-QuaGL-13]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
1987
47
15
32
23
6
2
22

 

Local High School Principals/Administrators
Question 14: How about the local high school principals and administrators? (Asked in: 1987.)
[Code: 518-QuaGL-14]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
1987
38
11
27
24
9
5
24

School Boards
Question 15: Now, what grade would you give the school board in this community? (Asked in: 1984, 2011.)
[Code: 532-QuaGS-15]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
2011
37
8
29
32
15
11
6
1984
41
9
32
29
11
6
13

Public School Parents
Question 16: What grade would you give the parents of students in the local public schools for bringing up their children? (Asked in: 1981, 1984, 1990, 2011.)
[Code: 527-QuaGP-16]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
2011
36
8
28
37
18
6
3
1990
26
3
23
40
20
7
7
1984
33
7
26
36
16
6
9
1981*
29
5
24
36
16
11
8
Note: The 1981 data and the following text was published in the 1984 poll, but the 1981 data was not published in the 1981 poll. *1981 wording: "What grade would you give parents in this community for the job they are doing in raising their children to be self-disciplined and responsible young people -- A, B, C, D, or FAIL?"

 

Specific Subjects
Question 17: Using the A, B, C, D, and FAIL scale again, please grade the job you feel the public schools here are doing in providing education in each of the following areas. Physical education; Music; Reading; Mathematics; Writing; Science; Art; Social Studies; Vocational training. (Asked in: 1981.)
[Code: 533-QuaGS-17]

1981 National Totals
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
Reading
48
16
32
27
11
5
9
Writing
46
12
34
27
12
6
9
Mathematics
47
13
34
29
10
4
10
Science
44
11
33
33
7
3
13
Social Studies
43
11
32
32
8
3
14
Music
49
17
32
22
9
3
17
Physical Education
62
21
41
20
4
2
12
Art
42
12
30
28
9
2
19
Vocational or Job Training
35
8
27
25
15
6
19

 

How Effective for Jobs (Public Schools in Community)
Question 18: What grade would you give the public schools in your community for preparing students for employment following graduation from high school? (Asked in: 2005.)
[Code: 821-QuaGH-18]
National Totals
Year
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
2005
41
9
32
32
10
7
10

 

Grading Aspects of Public Schools
Question 19: Using the A, B, C, D, FAIL scale again, please grade the public schools of your community on each of the following. Handling of extracurricular activities (sports, theater, etc.); Curriculum (i.e. subjects offered); Physical plant and facilities; Quality of teaching; Preparation for college for those who plan to attend; Education students receive; Books and instructional materials; Ways discipline is handled; Preparation for jobs for those who do not plan to attend college; Behavior of students in school. (Asked of Public School Parents) (Asked in: 1983, 1996.)
[Code: 511-QuaGG-19]
National Totals
(Asked of Public School Parents)
A & B
%
A
%
B
%
C
%
D
%
Fail
%
Don't Know
%
1983
%
1996
%
1983
%
1996
%
1983
%
1996
%
1983
%
1996
%
1983
%
1996
%
1983
%
1996
%
1983
%
1996
%
Handling of extracurricular activities (sports, theater, etc.)
53
59
20
17
33
42
26
26
8
7
4
4
9
4
Curriculum (i.e. subjects offered)
61
57
24
16
37
41
25
29
4
7
3
2
7
5
Physical plant and facilities
65
56
30
18
35
38
21
29
5
8
2
3
7
4
Quality of teaching
48
53
13
13
35
40
29
32
12
9
4
3
7
3
Preparation for college for those who plan to attend
38
49
12
12
26
37
27
31
17
11
4
4
14
5
Education students receive
46
48
14
10
32
38
29
35
15
11
4
4
6
2
Books and instructional materials
52
48
19
10
33
38
32
29
6
9
2
4
8
10
Ways schools are administered or run
39
40
11
8
28
32
29
34
17
15
8
8
7
3
Ways discipline is handled
32
25
11
7
21
18
22
29
20
23
19
18
7
5
Preparation for jobs for those who do not plan to attend college
26
25
7
4
19
21
29
38
20
19
9
11
16
7
Behavior of students in school
24
22
5
3
19
19
27
35
19
23
22
17
8
3

 

Question 20: What percentage of public school students in this country do you believe receive a high-quality education today? (Asked in: 2015.)
Code: 997-Qua1GX-20] Online poll

 
National Totals
Year
More than 75%
51%-75%
26%-50%
Less than or equal to 25%
2015 7% 20% 38% 26%

 

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Last modified June 26, 2018
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