Idahoans are generally happy about the direction their state is taking.
But when it comes to education — identified, overwhelmingly, as Idaho’s top priority — Idahoans aren’t quite as satisfied.
Those disconnected takeaways come from a statewide Public Policy Survey unveiled Monday by Boise State University.
According to the statewide survey of 1,000 Idaho adults:
-Only 28 percent of Idahoans rated Idaho’s K-12 system as excellent or good. Thirty-seven percent rated schools as fair and 33 percent rated schools as poor.
-About 51 percent of Idahoans said the state’s schools are below average, when compared to other states.
-About 11 percent of respondents said Idaho schools are above average, and 31 percent said the schools are about average.
-Idahoans also are concerned about whether Idaho’s K-12 system is preparing graduates for college. About 23 percent of respondents said the schools are doing a good or excellent job at college preparation. Thirty-eight percent of Idahoans said the schools are doing a fair job at college preparation; 35 percent rated college preparation as poor.
-Idahoans were split on the question of school funding. Forty-nine percent of respondents said the K-12 system needs more money; 44 percent said the school system is adequately funded, but instead must undergo “major reforms.” These responses fell within the survey’s 3 percent margin of error.
