New Yorkers want better educational outcomes, more flexibility for families, and meaningful academic standards, according to new Empire Center poll results.
Voters overwhelmingly believe New York should improve student performance, and most oppose replacing graduation exams with alternative pathways.
Most respondents support giving families more educational options, including choosing public schools outside their district, requiring schools to accept out-of-district students, and using education vouchers.
The findings are drawn from a statewide survey of 600 likely 2026 general-election voters conducted by Cygnal on behalf of the Empire Center. This report focuses on education-related findings. Additional results from the survey will be released separately.
The results suggest that New Yorkers are open to reforms that expand educational opportunity, but still place a high value on academic achievement and accountability.
The detailed findings follow below.
Only 4 percent of respondents want New York’s education system to continue on its current course. After being told that New York spends approximately $36,000 per student while producing average academic results, 94 percent said schools should improve student performance, reduce spending, or do both.
Most New Yorkers support giving families more flexibility to choose public schools. Respondents support allowing students to attend schools outside their home district by nearly two to one, and most also support requiring schools to accept students from other districts.
School vouchers receive more support than opposition statewide. Half of respondents support giving families a voucher that could be used at a public or private school of their choice, while 41 percent oppose the proposal.
Most New Yorkers oppose replacing graduation exams with alternative pathways. Roughly two-thirds reject allowing students to graduate without passing required exams, even when alternatives such as projects, presentations, or community service are offered.
Only 4 Percent Want New York’s Education System to Stay the Course
After being told that New York spends approximately $36,000 per student each year while producing average reading and math results, 94 percent of respondents said the state should improve student performance, reduce spending, or do both. Only 4 percent said the current approach should continue unchanged.
Forty-seven percent of respondents want New York schools to do better, while 41 percent want schools to do better and spend less. Democrat-leaning groups tend to prefer the former, while Republican-leaning respondents and those with no political affiliation tend to prefer the latter.
The finding shows overwhelming demand for change. Only 4 percent of respondents said the state should continue on its current course.
New Yorkers Back Letting Students Attend Schools Outside Their District
Most New Yorkers support allowing families to send their children to a public school outside their home district. Statewide, respondents support the policy by nearly two to one, 59 percent to 30 percent.
Support cuts across political, geographic, income, and age groups. New York City residents are especially supportive, with nearly three-quarters favoring the policy. Opposition is highest on Long Island, though support remains competitive even there.
The results suggest broad support for giving families greater flexibility within the public-school system. That support continues when voters are asked whether schools themselves should accept students from outside district boundaries.
Most New Yorkers Say Schools Should Welcome Students from Other Districts
Most New Yorkers support requiring public schools to accept students from other school districts. Statewide, support exceeds opposition by roughly 20 percentage points and leads across every major demographic group.
Support is strongest in New York City and among adults age 75 and older. Long Island stands out as the most skeptical region, but even there, the results show a near-even split.
The findings suggest that voters are generally receptive not only to expanded family choice, but also to policies that make those choices more widely available.
More New Yorkers Support School Vouchers Than Oppose Them
Statewide, 50 percent of respondents support giving families a voucher that could be used for a public or private school of their choice, while 41 percent oppose the proposal.
Support is strongest among lower-income households, New York City residents, and respondents with no political affiliation. Republican- and Democrat-leaning respondents expressed nearly identical levels of support, with roughly half of each group backing the idea.
While opinion is more divided on vouchers than on other forms of school choice, supporters outnumber opponents statewide.
Most New Yorkers Want Graduation Exams to Stay
Most New Yorkers oppose allowing students to graduate without passing required exams. Statewide, roughly two-thirds of respondents oppose replacing exam requirements with alternatives such as community service, personal projects, or presentations.
Opposition exceeds support across every major demographic group. Republicans, Trump voters, Long Island residents, and higher-income households are particularly opposed. Younger adults and Democrats are somewhat more supportive, but opposition remains the majority view even among those groups.
The results suggest that New Yorkers continue to view academic standards and measurable achievement as essential to earning a high school diploma.
Taken together with the other education findings, the survey points to broad support for improving educational outcomes while maintaining clear expectations for student performance.
