Investigating the point of view in high school students about the socio-educational criteria to choose a nongovernmental school

The purpose of this study was to investigate the views of high school girl students about socio-educational criteria to choose a nongovernmental school. The research method was quantitative and descriptive-survey method. The statistical population consisted of eleventh – grade girl students of nongovernmental schools in Firoozabad. Sample size with the same population was 119 students. The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire including 4 social components (educational issues, motivational affairs, teachers' characteristics and school outcomes) and 5 educational components (physical and educational facilities, educational quality, information technology, school management and constant evaluation) with 45 indicators. Data analysis was done by single sample t- test and Friedman ranking test. The results showed that students considered the school management component as the most important criterion for choosing a nongovernmental school. Also, the characteristics of teachers and motivational issues were placed in the next priorities. In addition, the familiarity of the school principal with the scientific methods of management, the availability of specialized teachers and the permanent communication between parents and teachers were important for students. In general, social standards with an average of 5.04 and educational criteria with an average of 5.00 were involved in the selecting of the school.