This report contains the results of a 1986 public opinion poll concerning public schools. This annual survey, using a modified probability sample of the United States population, posed questions on the following topics: (1) the most important problems with which schools must deal; (2) drug use in schools; (3) grading of schools and their teachers; (4) grading schools on various success characteristics; (5) goals of education; (6) Federal, State and local government influence on education; (7) financing schools and schooling; (8) attitudes about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and schooling; (9) grade promotion and high school graduation requirements; (10) national testing; (11) time spent on homework; (12) teachers: testing, salaries, shortages; (13) age at which children should begin school; (14) the right to choose children's schools; (15) attitudes toward private and parochial schools; and (16) support for a voucher system. Graphs, charts and other graphic displays accompany this report. Some statistics are broken down into groups which reflect the educational level of the respondents. The research methods are summarized and procedures are given for ordering the poll. (VM)