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Table 22. Average grade that the public would give the public schools in their community and in the nation at large: 1974 through 2006 
Year All adults No children in school Public school parents Private school parents
Nation Local community Nation Local community Nation Local community Nation Local community
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1974 2.63 2.57 2.80 2.15
1975 2.38 2.31 2.49 1.81
1976 2.38 2.34 2.48 2.22
1977 2.33 2.25 2.59 2.05
1978 2.21 2.11 2.47 1.69
                 
1979 2.21 2.15 2.38 1.88
1980 2.26
1981 1.94 2.20 2.12 2.36 1.88
1982 2.01 2.24 2.04 2.18 2.01 2.35 2.02 2.20
1983 1.91 2.12 1.92 2.10 1.92 2.31 1.82 1.89
                 
1984 2.09 2.36 2.11 2.30 2.11 2.49 2.04 2.17
1985 2.14 2.39 2.16 2.36 2.20 2.44 1.93 2.00
1986 2.13 2.36 2.29 2.55 2.14
1987 2.18 2.44 2.20 2.38 2.22 2.61 2.03 2.01
1988 2.08 2.35 2.02 2.32 2.13 2.48 2.00 2.13
                 
1989 2.01 2.35 1.99 2.27 2.06 2.56 1.93 2.12
1990 1.99 2.29 1.98 2.27 2.03 2.44 1.85 2.09
1991 2.00 2.36
1992 1.93 2.30 1.92 1.94 2.73 1.85
1993 1.95 2.41 1.97 2.40 1.97 2.48 1.80 2.11
                 
1994 1.95 2.26 1.95 2.16 1.90 2.55 1.86 1.90
1995 1.97 2.28 1.98 2.25 1.93 2.41 1.81 1.85
1996 1.93 2.30 1.91 2.22 2.00 2.56 1.80 1.86
1997 1.97 2.35 1.99 2.27 2.01 2.56 1.99 1.87
1998 1.93 2.41 1.91 2.36 1.96 2.51 1.81 2.20
                 
1999 2.02 2.44 2.03 2.42 1.97 2.56
2000 1.98 2.47 1.94 2.44 2.05 2.59
2001 2.01 2.47 2.00 2.42 2.04 2.66
2002 2.08 2.44 2.08 2.40 2.06 2.61
2003 2.11 2.41 2.09 2.32 2.16 2.57
                 
2004 2.08 2.56 2.15 2.42 2.00 2.58
2005 2.06 2.45 2.07 2.43 2.11 2.60
2006 2.03 2.45 2.00 2.41 2.07 2.60
—Not available.
NOTE: Average based on a scale where A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, and F = 0.
SOURCE: Phi Delta Kappa, Phi Delta Kappan, "The Annual Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools," 1974 through 2006. (This table was prepared August 2006.)
National Center for Education Statistics - http://nces.ed.gov
U.S. Department of Education