Examine the types of curricula and teachers a child has in normal school as compared with a home-school situation. Note that one disadvantage of home schooling is that unlike teachers in the school system, not all parents and home-school tutors have received formal training in teaching or in the subject they are teaching, or they might be stronger in understanding one subject but not another.
Look at the one-on-one opportunities available in home schooling versus regular schooling. For example, if your home-schooled child struggles with a math problem, he does not have to worry about a class of 20 other students moving on without him as he does in the regular school system. Realize that when your child is home-schooled, he works at his own pace and can feel more comfortable asking questions about unclear content.
Compare the availability of resources such as gyms to home-schooled students versus normal school students. Realize that regular school students generally have better access to athletic facilities, science labs and art rooms. However, look for a home-schooling parent group that lets you plan learning activities such as museum field trips for your child and other home-schoolers.
Search for community activities that help your home-schooler stay physically active and learn more about his personal interests. For example, look at available dance classes or city sports teams, and compare what you find in the community to those offered at a regular school.
Review the social and religious values that are important to you, and look at a normal school situation to see if the teachers and staff there echo those values. Note that a home-school situation allows you to teach your child a specific value system without having to worry about what else he is learning in a regular school setting.