This paper reports the results of a study of parents' reasons for choosing a school for their children. Earlier studies produced inconsistent results concerning the importance of school location for parents' choice. The present study involved interviews with parents of elementary school children in 39 families living in 5 neighborhoods in Syracuse, New York. Children were enrolled in public, Catholic, or non-Catholic private schools. The neighborhoods were predominantly white and represented a wide range of income levels. In about 75 percent of the families, at least one parent was Catholic and had a grandparent who had come to the United States from a European country. With respect to their children's school enrollment, parents adopted one of four strategies: (1) living in a neighborhood with good schools; (2) selecting a neighborhood Catholic school; (3) selecting a school in another neighborhood; and (4) selecting a neighborhood public school. The overriding factor mentioned by parents as influencing choice of school was not cognitive learning but the acquisition of moral values. School location was perceived as having an impact on the educational outcomes parents valued for their children. The implications of these results for educational policy are examined. A 29-item bibliography is provided. (BC)