Private schools leader vs. me

Jay Matthews:

After I accused American private schools of hiding vital data, a practice that makes it hard for me to compare them to other schools, National Association of Independent Schools President Patrick F. Bassett agreed to a chat. His organization represents many well-known private schools:
Mathews: You have said you don’t like my way of comparing schools. Okay, what way of comparing schools would you prefer?
Bassett: When parents ask us, “What’s the best school,” we say, “The school that best meets your child’s needs.” The first step in finding that perfect school is to evaluate what your child needs. An environment that’s more nurturing? Or more competitive? Does she thrive in a larger community or one that is smaller? Is he looking for specific classes or programs? Does the philosophy of the school mesh with your family’s values? Look at the websites and other materials from the schools. Would the approach and program at a school work for your child?