In DHM’s most recent statewide survey, Washingtonians grade the state’s public schools with a C. While a C may seem low to some—and high to others—it isn’t unique in the Pacific Northwest. Our most recent Oregon survey reveals similarly negative outlooks regarding public schools between Washington and Oregon residents.
Perception of Public Schools in Washington State
In Washington, public schools receive a mixed review from the general population with some residents giving high marks and others failing grades. Overall, the top response for public school performance in Washington is, “average”. The average grade given to local public schools is 2.3 (C) on a 4.0 scale, with only 15% awarding an A, and 9% giving their local public schools an F. The majority, 51%, give local public school performance a C or lower, indicating a sizable portion of residents believe there is substantial room for improvement.
Washingtonians have a slightly more favorable view of their local public schools than Washington’s public schools overall, which they rate with a 2.1 (C) on a 4.0 scale. Americans rating their local public schools better than public schools, in general, is a widely observed pattern, which can be attributed to reasons such as warped perceptions of the school system overall due to media coverage or parents not wanting to believe that the school their children attend is mediocre, according to the Brookings Institution.
The perceptions of public schools in Washington vary significantly based on demographics and socio-economic factors. For instance, people with a college education or higher are more likely to give local schools an A (23%) compared to those with only a high school diploma (13%). Similarly, people in higher income brackets tend to rate schools more favorably, with 26% of those in households earning over $150,000 giving an A, compared to just 8% of those in households making between $50,000-$100,000. Additionally, parents are generally more positive about local schools than non-parents, with 23% of parents giving an A versus 11% of non-parents. People of color also tend to rate schools more favorably (21% A) compared to their white counterparts (13% A), an interesting pattern given that students of color surpassed half of the student enrollment in Washington public schools in 2023, yet score lower on average on every measurable academic outcome according to the Seattle Times. While there are likely many factors impacting opinions of schools among communities of color, this finding (people of color having more positive sentiment on a big picture topic) is consistent with data from our recent survey of people of color in the Puget Sound conducted in partnership with Quinn Thomas.
WA Schools and Funding
As schools across Washington continue to face funding issues (Seattle Times) that may be tied to several factors such as: inflation for various costs, including educational materials and utilities, a decline in enrollment rates from lower birth rates, and issues with local levies, we asked Washingtonians for their perspective on school funding. Specifically, we asked folks what was closer to their opinion.
- Our K–12 schools do not have a funding problem; if they spent what they have more efficiently they could meet the needs of all students.
- Our K–12 schools have a serious funding problem; there’s simply not enough money to meet the needs of all students.
A majority (54%) of Washington residents believe that K-12 schools have serious funding issues and lack the necessary resources to meet students’ needs. In contrast, 35% think that schools could meet their needs more effectively if they spent their current funds more wisely, and 11% don’t know. We observe significant differences by gender and political affiliation in these opinions: women (60%) are more likely than men (46%) to believe there is a lack of funding, while Democrats (66%) are more inclined to see funding shortfalls compared to Republicans (38%).
Comparing with Oregon’s Perspective
Across the border in Oregon, the sentiment towards public schools is similar. Oregonians rate their local public schools even lower, with an average grade of 2.0—below the 2.3 average in Washington. Only 6% of Oregonians give their schools an A, highlighting a more critical stance toward the quality of education in Oregon.
Like in Washington, Oregonians express strong concerns about school funding. A majority (55%) agree that public schools have a funding problem, an increase from 47% five years ago. This belief spans across various demographics, though there are partisan differences: 60% of Democrats and 61% of non-affiliated voters view funding as insufficient, whereas 54% of Republicans believe schools have adequate funding if managed efficiently.
While both Washington and Oregon face challenges in their public education systems, the extent of dissatisfaction and perspectives on funding and quality reveals notable differences. Washington’s residents, though critical, tend to have slightly more favorable views compared to their Oregon counterparts. Both states, however, must navigate these concerns as they seek to improve their educational systems and address the pressing issues of funding and resource allocation.