You gotta investigate cuz there are some private schools that suck real bad and cost a fortune and then there are some public schools that consistently have outstanding test scores year after year . I recommend checking the Stan9 test scores online year after year and then being very vocal/active in your childs school...get to know the teachers and staff,participate, etc. The main thing is that parents make sure that the learning doesn't stop when the bell rings at school. Teachers need help. Esp. nowadays when the classrooms are packed tight (cali has a new law that caps all classrooms at 20 kids but the bad thing about that is that they sometimes mix classes- like 1st and 2nd graders in one class when they run outta teachers- and those kids that aren't so bright won't be able to make it)
Home schooling has its drawbacks too. Children who are home schooled aren't well-rounded...sometimes. They're sheltered. If they're lucky enough to have smart-as-whips parents teaching em, they'll be book smart, but not wise and once they're out on their own, they'll be eaten alive.