WASHINGTON, D.C. — A slim majority of K-12 parents, 52%, say they receive communication about what their child is learning in math class at least monthly. However, about a quarter of parents of school-age children say they hear about their child’s math curriculum less frequently, while 17% say they never receive this information.
Parents of ninth- through 12th-grade students are the least likely to report receiving communication about their child’s math lessons at least monthly (38%). This compares with 53% of middle school parents and 65% of elementary school parents. More than one in four high school parents (27%) report not hearing from the school at all during the school year.
These results are from the Gallup Math Matters Study, conducted by Gallup with support from the Gates Foundation via a web survey Dec. 2-6, 2024. The survey is based on 5,136 U.S. adults, including 808 K-12 parents, using the Gallup Panel.
Four in 10 Parents Have Heard Little to Nothing From Child’s School About Math Goals
When it comes to their school’s goals for their child’s math learning this school year, 17% of K-12 parents say their school has shared “a lot,” 41% “some,” 25% “not much” and 17% “nothing at all.” Similar to the amount of communication they receive about what their child is learning in math, high school parents are the least likely to report receiving communication about their child’s math goals. About a quarter of high school parents (24%) say their school has shared nothing at all about the goals for their child’s math learning, compared with 15% of middle school and 11% of elementary school parents.
Bottom Line
Parents and family members play a crucial role in supporting students’ success in math, making their awareness of what their children are learning — and the goals they should be striving for — essential. Yet, Gallup’s findings show that substantial shares of parents, particularly those of high school students, say they receive little to no communication about their child’s math curriculum or learning objectives.
This communication gap comes at a challenging time for U.S. math education, as national assessments reveal concerning declines in student math achievement. Given the critical importance of math skills for today’s students — both for their future careers and everyday lives — strengthening communication between schools and families is a vital step in ensuring students receive the support they need to excel.
Learn more about the Gallup Math Matters Study.
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