UCI

More than half of the county's residents give their local schools high marks (54%), with 13% saying they are excellent and 41% saying good. The number giving excellent or good ratings is unchanged from last year and represents a 12-point increase since 1996. Parents with children in the public schools give more positive ratings (60%), and schools receive better ratings in the South County (64%) than in the North (50%). There are no differences between Latinos and non-Hispanic whites.

Nonetheless, most (58%) think the current level of funding for their local schools is inadequate. Only 34% say the schools receive sufficient funding, with 24% saying they get just enough money and 10% saying they get more than enough. Among parents with children in the public schools, 63% say the funding is inadequate. Democrats (65%) are more likely than Republicans (56%) to say the local schools do not receive enough money. Sixty-one percent of non-Hispanic whites say the school funding is insufficient, compared to 51% of Latinos.

Residents are divided on the idea of raising local taxes if their local schools said they needed much more money, with 47% saying they would vote in favor of a tax hike and 46% opposed. These numbers are similar to 1999, when 51% said they would vote in favor of a tax increase for their local schools, and 46% would be opposed. In households with children in the public schools, 50% say they would favor a tax increase, which is down 5 points from last year. Among Latinos, 58% would vote for a tax hike, compared to 42% of non-Hispanic whites. Most Democrats (58%) favor raising taxes for local schools, while most Republicans are opposed (60%). Most people 55 and older (56%) are also opposed to a tax hike for local schools.

A proposal to make it possible to pass school bonds with a 55% majority, instead of the current two-thirds vote currently required, falls short of a simple majority in Orange County, with 48% in favor and 40% opposed. The measure is supported by 56% of parents with children in public schools. Support is stronger among Latinos (64%) than among non-Hispanic whites (43%). Democrats favor the measure (52%), while 51% of Republicans are opposed.

Meanwhile, six in 10 residents favor providing parents with tax-supported vouchers to send their children to any public, private or parochial school they choose. These numbers have not changed since 1998. Among parents with children in the public schools, 69% favor vouchers. School vouchers have more support among Latinos (71%) and Republicans (67%) than among non-Hispanic whites (57%) and Democrats (51%).