A poll commissioned by the Boston Public Institute (BPI) shows that most Bostonians are generally satisfied and optimistic about the city’s future but are most worried about public education and the high costs of living in the state’s capital city.

Roughly 600 city voters were asked to evaluate quality of life and city government’s overall performance in the poll, which was conducted last month by SocialSphere, a firm hired by BPI. John Della Volpe, director of polling at Harvard’s Institute of Politics is the founder and CEO of SocialSphere.

“Overall, the city is happy,” Della Volpe said on Monday. “Most people are enjoying the quality of life,” he said, while acknowledging that there is always “room for improvement.”

The survey, conducted between April 8 and 14, solicited opinions in English and Spanish via landlines, cell phone, and texts.

The respondents were divided in their views of the Boston Public Schools, with more rating them as more “poor (13 percent) than excellent (3 percent),” according to the survey presented at the briefing.While voters appreciate BPS teachers and BPS efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion, there are concerns about preparing students for life after graduation, financial management, and infrastructure, said Della Volpe. 

Additionally, 53 percent of respondents said they’ve “recently heard something about BPS; the most common recalls are negative,” according to the survey.

Some concerns include antiquated school buildings, student mental health issues, and a lack of parental trust in the system.  A majority, including parents and younger voters, support the idea of modernizing BPS infrastructure, said Della Volpe. This includes more than 60 percent of parents, millennial, and Gen Z voters. 

Even with significant investments, such as BPS’s expenditure of approximately $31,000 per student, which is the highest in the state, education remains one of the primary concerns voiced by voters in the poll.

According to Della Volpe, even after pollsters provided follow-up details regarding funding per student, the majority of voters still believed that more resources should be allocated for students. About half of Boston voters see a “great need” for additional BPS funding. 

Cost of living was another key area of concern raised through the poll, with 70 percent saying it was of “high importance.” Sixty percent of the respondents said they intend to stay in Boston “over the long-term.”

The poll also asked voters for their opinion on Mayor Wu’s “Sundays for All” program, which offers BPS students free admission to select museums in the city. Some 43 percent said the program should be extended to include non-BPS students and up to the three family members.