Schools thrive when there is a strong connection between educators and families. Yet sometimes, despite the best intentions, schools miss the mark when it comes to understanding what parents truly think. That is why running regular parent surveys is no longer optional—it’s essential.
Asking the right parent survey questions gives schools real-time data on what’s working, what needs improvements, and where gaps may exist. It is not just about collecting random opinions—it’s about creating a structured way to drive improvements with the help of tools like a parent feedback app, parents survey software, or a comprehensive academic feedback system.
If you’re wondering what kind of questions to ask, read this blog. We have put together a detailed list of 40+ parent survey questions you should definitely consider including in your next feedback cycle.
Examples of parent survey questions
If you really want to understand what parents really think, asking the right questions is important. Here is a list of important parent survey questions that schools should definitely consider. To make it easier for you, we have grouped them into different sections:
Quality of education
Q1. How would you rate the overall quality of education your child is receiving?
Q2. Do you feel the curriculum meets your child’s learning needs?
Q3. How well are teachers supporting your child’s academic progress?
Q4. Are you satisfied with the way critical thinking and problem-solving skills are taught?
Q5. How confident are you in the school’s ability to prepare your child for the next grade level?
Communication & parent meetings
Q1. How easy is it to get in touch with teachers or school staff when needed?
Q2. Are you happy with how often you receive updates about your child’s progress?
Q3. How clear and helpful are the communications from the school (emails, newsletters, portals, etc.)?
Q4. Are parent-teacher meetings scheduled at convenient times for you?
Q5. Do you feel your feedback during meetings is heard and considered?
Student well-being & support
Q1. Does the school do enough to support your child’s mental and emotional health?
Q2. How comfortable does your child feel approaching teachers or counselors for help?
Q3. Are bullying issues addressed effectively at school?
Q4. How well does the school handle student safety and security?
Q5. Does your child feel valued and respected at school?
Facilities & amenities
Q1. How satisfied are you with the cleanliness and maintenance of the school buildings?
Q2. Are the sports, library, and lab facilities up to your expectations?
Q3. How would you rate the school’s playground and recreational spaces?
Q4. Do you think the school provides a safe and engaging learning environment?
Q5. Are transportation services (if applicable) reliable and safe for your child?
School policies & management
Q1. How transparent are the school’s rules and disciplinary policies?
Q2. Are you happy with how the school manages conflicts or complaints?
Q3. How effective is the leadership team in running the school?
Q4. Do you feel the school’s policies are fair and consistently applied?
Q5. Are you informed in a timely manner about any important policy changes?
School culture & environment
Q1. How inclusive and welcoming is the school environment for students and families?
Q2. Does the school promote good values like respect, kindness, and responsibility?
Q3. How well does the school celebrate diversity and different cultures?
Q4. Does your child feel like they belong at this school?
Q5. How strong is the sense of community among students, parents, and staff?
Extracurricular activities
Q1. How satisfied are you with the variety of extracurricular options available?
Q2. Are the activities well-organized and enriching for students?
Q3. Does the school encourage your child to participate in extracurricular activities?
Q4. Are there enough opportunities for students to explore different talents and hobbies?
Q5. How well are extracurricular activities balanced with academics?
Overall satisfaction
Q1. Overall, how satisfied are you with your child’s experience at this school?
Q2. On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to recommend this school to others?
Q3. What are the school’s biggest strengths, in your opinion?
Q4. What areas do you think the school could improve in?
Q5. How likely are you to re-enroll your child for the next academic year?
Other questions
Q1. What was your primary reason for choosing this school?
Q2. How does this school compare to others you considered?
Q3. What’s one thing you wish the school would change or improve?
Q4. How well does the school adapt to new challenges or situations (like online learning)?
Q5. Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with the school?
What are the benefits of parent surveys
When it comes to running a school, it’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day operations—managing classes, organizing events, and planning curriculums. But if there’s one thing schools should never overlook, it’s parent feedback. Parents are an essential part of the school community, and getting their honest opinions can offer a fresh, much-needed perspective. That is why parent surveys are vital.
1. Strengthen the parent-school bond
At the heart of every great school is a strong relationship between parents and the school team. Parent surveys are a simple but powerful tool to strengthen the relationship between parents and the school team. When you ask parents for their feedback, you are sending a clear message: “Your voice matters to us.”
This sense of being heard encourages parents to stay more engaged with school activities, support their child’s learning at home, and even become more active in the school community. Over time, this partnership leads to better outcomes for students and a more collaborative school environment.
2. Find areas for improvement
No school is perfect—there’s always room to grow. But sometimes it’s hard to see where improvements are really needed when you’re working inside the system every day. Parent surveys give you an outside-in view.
Maybe parents love the quality of education but feel communication could be better. Or maybe they are thrilled with extracurricular activities but concerned about student safety. Surveys highlight those patterns you might not otherwise notice. And the best part? You are getting direct, actionable feedback that you can actually use to create a better school experience.
3. Boosting parent satisfaction and loyalty
Parents who feel ignored or brushed off are much more likely to switch schools—or tell others about their bad experience. On the other hand, parents who feel heard are incredibly loyal.
Conducting surveys shows that you genuinely care about their thoughts and are open to improvement. Even if you can’t change everything overnight, just the act of asking and acknowledging their input goes a long way. It builds trust. It reassures them that they made the right choice in enrolling their child at your school.
4. Better communication and transparency
Parents want transparency. They don’t want to feel like important decisions are made behind closed doors without their input. Surveys are a perfect way to open up that channel of communication.
When you regularly ask for parent feedback—and then actually show how you’re using it—you create a culture of openness and trust. Parents feel more in the loop. They are less likely to spread rumors or jump to conclusions because they know the school values honesty and collaboration.
5. Spotting trends early
Another major benefit of sending regular surveys using parents survey software, you can catch small issues before they turn into big problems.
For example, if you start noticing a trend where multiple parents mention that communication feels unclear, you can address it early with better newsletters or parent portals. If a few parents mention concerns about bullying, you can ramp up your anti-bullying programs before the problem grows.
Surveys act like an early warning system. They help you stay proactive, not reactive. And in the world of education, being proactive makes all the difference.
Wrapping up
Parent surveys are not just another task to check off the to-do list. They are a strategic, meaningful way to build a stronger school community, improve student outcomes, and keep families engaged for the long haul.
Make parent surveys a regular habit, act on the feedback you receive, and always, always close the loop with parents by letting them know how their input is making a difference.
When parents feel valued, respected, and heard, great things happen—not just for them, but for the students and the entire school community too.
If you want to conduct parent surveys, try piHappiness (an end-to-end parent feedback app). With our user-friendly interface and pre-designed templates, you can easily create, customize, and send parent surveys and gather valuable feedback.
