63% of Albertans don’t believe public education system is ‘strong and healthy’: poll
Posted February 17, 2026 10:22 am.
Last Updated February 17, 2026 10:30 am.
Nearly two-thirds of Albertans (63 per cent) disagree that the province’s public education system is “strong and healthy,” according to new polling data.
That percentage creeps up to 68 per cent among Alberta parents with kids who attend public schools.
That’s one of the main findings from a new Angus Reid Institute survey exploring many facets of Alberta’s education system.
Many of those surveyed say a positive in Alberta is the numerous options available to parents choosing how and where to educate their kids – charter, independent, home education, alternative language and religious programs.
The poll found 41 per cent consider the diversity of school options available to be a strength, while 27 per cent said it was a weakness.
Parents of school-aged children view English public schools (47 per cent), Catholic public schools (46 per cent) and public charter schools (43 per cent) as the highest quality education options in Alberta. Next on the list were non-religious independent schools (35 per cent) and French public schools (34 per cent). At the bottom of the list were public alternative schools (30 per cent), religious private independent schools (29 per cent) and homeschooling (25 per cent).
The poll also found that the parents polled admitted they did not know enough about the province’s education options beyond English and Catholic public schools to assess their quality properly.
On the matter of funding, two-thirds of Alberta parents believe students should have government-funded access to education, compared to 25 per cent who disagree.
When asked if they believe the government should expand educational opportunities outside the public realm, Albertans were split – 39 per cent said yes, while 46 per cent said no.
There continues to be resistance to funding independent schools; a citizen-led petition to limit taxpayer funds for private education failed earlier this month when it didn’t get enough signatures.
Meanwhile, Albertans polled are more willing to allocate public funding to public charter schools than to independent schools. Nearly half (46 per cent) feel public charter schools should receive more or the same amount of money they do currently per student. Forty-per cent feel they should receive less or none.
Most poll respondents want an expansion of options under the public umbrella rather than outside of it. Seventy-seven per cent of Albertans believe the province should expand opportunities with public schools. That number jumps to 84 per cent for parents of school-aged kids.
A randomized sample of 516 Canadian adults living in Alberta who are members of Angus Reid Forum took part in the online survey from Jan. 27-30, 2026. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- 4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
The survey also included an additional sample of 416 Canadian adults living in Alberta who are parents of kids aged 6 to 17.
