Parents Say School Cleaning Has Room for Improvement

Apparently, teachers aren’t the only ones issuing grades this fall. Parents are taking the red pen to the cleanliness of their child’s schools.

Wakefield Research conducted an American Cleaning Institute (ACI) Parents survey among 500 nationally representative US parents ages 18-plus, between July 3 and Aug. 6, using an email invitation and an online survey. Data was weighted to ensure an accurate representation of US parents, 18 and older.

Per the survey, roughly 60% of parents give their child’s school a “B” or “C” on cleanliness, with bathrooms and mess halls unsurprisingly topping the list of areas for improvement.

“Cleanliness is not just a maintenance issue; it is part of the broader back-to-school checklist that helps reassure parents that schools are prepared to welcome students back,” said Kristin DiNicolantonio, ACI’s senior director, stakeholder communications. “Parents want to know that the places where their children learn, eat and play are being cared for. Strong cleaning and hygiene practices help support healthier school communities and keep students focused on learning.”

Hygiene Matters

New survey results from the American Cleaning Institute show that while most parents give their child’s school positive marks for cleanliness, shared spaces where hygiene matters most like bathrooms and cafeterias remain top concerns. Officials say this underscores the “essential” role cleaning plays in creating school environments where students can learn, eat and gather with confidence. And, as families prepare for a new school year, parents are paying attention to how clean and well maintained their children’s schools are.

While 39% of parents with children in school rated the school’s cleanliness level as excellent, most felt there was room for improvement. Among the areas of concern identified were: Bathrooms (50%); Cafeterias (34%); Classrooms (25%); Gyms and locker rooms (20%); Common areas (16%); and Buses (15%).

School staff and parents can get more resources on supporting hand hygiene and cleaning best practices in their school system at HealthySchoolsHealthyPeople.org.