New York City’s Democratic voters overwhelmingly want to see more charter schools open — including almost 44 percent whose households include at least one public school teacher, a Post poll has found.
Support for the creation of more charter schools is also strongest at the lowest end of the income scale, the poll shows.
Among the 1,000 likely Democratic primary voters surveyed for the poll, 60.9 percent said they approved of allowing more charter schools, which are now limited in number by state law, compared with 32 percent who disapproved.
Overall, union-member households favored more charter schools, 55.6 percent to 34.8 percent, while those with a teacher were split 50 percent to 43.6 percent.
Respondents with annual incomes of less than $20,000 voiced approval at a rate of 82.3 percent, with 71 percent saying they “strongly” approved.
Support dipped from 72.7 percent among those earning $20,000 to $40,000 to 46.8 percent among those with incomes of $150,000 to $200,000.
But it rose to 58.3 percent among respondents earning $200,000 to $250,000, then dropped to 51.5 percent for higher earners.
Elise McCabe-Thompson, CEO of Mission Society — a Harlem nonprofit that has been stymied in its efforts to open a charter school — said, “The fact that there is broad support doesn’t surprise me.”
“Hopefully, voters start asking their elected officials about their support or opposition to charter schools and quality schools,” she added.