Private school teachers express more satisfaction with their working conditions, although teacher attrition is higher in private schools. Overall, public and private schools are organized differently in areas such as school and class size. In addition, public and private schools place responsibility for decision making in different areas. In general, smaller schools are thought to be easier to manage and to carry a greater sense of community among students and teachers. Larger schools, within limits, often have a wider array of academic programs and support services.
Public schools tend to have larger enrollments than private schools.
In the 1993-94 school year public schools were, on average, at least twice the size of private schools. This finding applied across schools in different types of communities at the elementary and secondary levels. The average class size is larger in public schools. Smaller classes are generally considered more desirable because they enable teachers to give more individual attention by lightening the teacher's overall workload. Public school principals cited the State Department of Education, school district staff, and even teachers as having more influence over curriculum than they have.