Key Highlights
- According to the latest Nation’s Report Card results, nearly half of U.S. high school seniors scored below basic in math and reading.
- Parents are increasingly dissatisfied with K-12 education, with 60% saying schools are on the wrong track.
- Support for school choice is growing, with 83% of parents backing Education Savings Accounts and enrollment in private choice programs rising 25% nationwide.
The newest results from the Nation’s Report Card have sent shockwaves through the education community. Nearly half of U.S. high school seniors scored below basic levels in math and reading, a stark decline compared to 2019, the last time the test was administered.
The findings indicate that America’s public education system is failing to prepare students for college, careers, and life.
But for parents, these results are hardly surprising. Many families have been sounding the alarm for years, noticing firsthand that their children are struggling in classrooms.
Parents Turning Away from America’s Public Schools
EdChoice’s 2025 Schooling in America Survey shows growing dissatisfaction with K-12 education: 68% of Americans and 60% of parents say schools are on the wrong track.
While over half of parents would prefer an option outside their local district school, nearly 8 in 10 children remain enrolled due to a lack of awareness or barriers to switching.
Yet, the impact of choice is clear – 49% of private school parents are “very satisfied” with their child’s education, compared with just 32% of public school parents. When families can align their child’s needs with the right environment, students thrive, parents feel less stress, and communities see the benefits.
The Rise of School Choice
School choice is no longer a fringe policy idea. It is quickly becoming mainstream. Many U.S. states now provide education savings accounts (ESAs), vouchers, charter school programs, and tax-credit scholarships.
Some programs are universal, while others target specific groups of students. In the past year alone, private choice program enrollment jumped 25%, topping 1.3 million students nationwide. Families are “voting with their feet,” moving toward schools they believe will give their children the best shot at success.
Research backs their decisions. Studies consistently show that educational choice programs can improve student achievement, strengthen civic values, and even encourage improvements in traditional public schools.
Strong Support Across the Board
Support for school choice is widespread and bipartisan. This year, 83% of parents said they support ESAs, and three-fourths of Americans favor universal access regardless of income. Policies such as vouchers, charter schools, and tax-credit scholarships also enjoy strong backing across political lines.
Why Policymakers Must Act Now
The latest NAEP results have underscored the urgency of reform. Advocates argue that policymakers cannot continue sending children to failing schools simply because of where they live. Families are already taking matters into their own hands – moving districts, applying for scholarships, and forming learning pods.
Education leaders now face a critical choice: make it easier for families to find schools that meet their children’s needs, or risk further decline in student outcomes. As parents rally behind school choice, the message is clear — America’s future depends on giving families the freedom to choose. Whether these reforms will slow the exodus of families remains uncertain. What is clear is that the debate over education in the United States is entering a critical new phase, with parents playing a more decisive role in shaping the future of the system.