Eagleton poll finds 78 percent of New Jerseyans view public schools as safe

A recently released survey from the Rutgers Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling found that approximately 78 percent of respondents said the public schools in their communities were either somewhat or very safe, according to a press release.

Additionally, the poll discovered that there was no major difference in how parents and guardians responded compared to nonparents regarding their feelings on school safety.

The poll also found that respondents without children felt school shootings were public schools' biggest issues. While those with children felt security measures were the most critical issue in schools.

The poll was conducted at the end of the previous academic year and surveyed New Jersey residents on their views about public schools in the state.

The poll also assessed how state residents felt about the success of their local public schools, with approximately half saying their local schools were either good or excellent.

"New Jersey is known for having some of the best public schools in the country, but it also has some of the most underserved and segregated," Ashley Koning, director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, said. "So it is no surprise that we have seen mixed views on overall public school performance."