Gen Z’s End of Year Report Card: ‘Less than Stellar’ Grades For Schools

Gen Z students have handed out “less than stellar” grades for their schools’ performance on skills-based learning and career focused curriculum as young people become more focused on their education leading to a job .

The annual “end of year report card” from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation surveyed more than 2,000 students in grades 5 through 12, who gave their schools’ an overall grade of “B-” — the same score for the second year in a row .

But students ages 12 to 19 had disparate opinions depending on their household income, with lower income students giving a “B-” compared to higher income students giving a “B” grade.

Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter

Stephanie Marken, Gallup senior partner for U.S. research, said students’ “neutral” remarks are concerning — particularly among those from lower income families who are “even more likely” to miss out on the support needed to thrive in school.

“At a time where we need an education experience to be anything but average, we continue to see students give their schools neutral scores on the metrics that matter most,” Marken said in a statement.

Here’s a snapshot of how students graded their schools this year:

End of Year Report Card:
2024 vs 2023

End of Year Report Card:
Lower Income vs Higher Income Students

Disclosure: The Walton Family Foundation provides financial support to The 74 .