Empire Center Poll: Just 4 Percent Approve of New York’s Education System - Empire Center for Public Policy

August 9, 2026 - 08:55

ALBANY, N.Y. - New Yorkers gave the state's education system a sweeping vote of no confidence. A new poll from the Empire Center found that only 4 percent of residents approve of how public schools are performing. That number is staggeringly low, and it cuts across every region, age group, and political party.

The poll, which surveyed more than 1,000 registered voters, shows that 47 percent of respondents said the system is doing a poor job. Another 31 percent rated it as only fair. Just 12 percent said it was good, and a mere 4 percent said excellent. The rest were unsure or had no opinion.

What is driving the frustration? The survey points to several issues. Cost is a big one. New York spends more per student than almost any other state, yet test scores have stayed flat for years. Parents also complain about school closures during the pandemic and the slow recovery since. Many feel that schools are not focusing enough on reading, writing, and math basics. Instead, they see constant battles over curriculum, discipline, and administrative bloat.

The numbers get worse when you look at specific groups. Among parents with children currently in public schools, approval is only slightly higher, at 7 percent. Even in New York City, where the Department of Education runs the largest district in the country, just 5 percent of residents approve. Upstate, the number is 3 percent.

The Empire Center, a fiscally conservative think tank, has pushed for more transparency in school spending and for expanding charter schools and private school choice. The poll suggests that message is resonating. When asked what the biggest problem is, the top answer was "too much money wasted on administration" at 34 percent, followed by "low academic standards" at 28 percent.

One surprising finding: Democrats are almost as unhappy as Republicans. Among Democrats, only 6 percent approve. Among Republicans, it is 2 percent. Independents sit at 4 percent. That kind of bipartisan disgust is rare in New York politics.

The poll also asked about specific reforms. A majority, 58 percent, said they would support a statewide cap on administrative salaries. Another 52 percent backed a proposal to let parents use public funds for private tuition. Those numbers suggest that the anger is not just noise. Voters want change, and they want it soon.

Education advocates and teacher unions have pushed back, saying the poll oversimplifies a complex system. They point to underfunded school buildings in poor neighborhoods and a teacher shortage as real problems. But the poll's margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, so the overall picture is clear.

For now, the message from New Yorkers is blunt: the schools are failing, and they are tired of paying for it. Whether that translates into action in Albany remains to be seen. But with numbers this low, lawmakers may have to listen.