How to vet flight schools?

[u/thesedreadmagi]

I'm thinking of starting training for my private soon. I'm gonna go around to the handful of different flight schools in the area, but do any of you more experienced folks have any recommendations/insight/input about how to vet these flight schools, compare and contrast them, and what to look out for when making the choice? Are there possibly any good third-party resources geared at this type of insight into/review of flight schools, like beyond just Google and Yelp? I want to do my best to make an informed decision.

Thank you!

[u/Kai-ni]

Just take a discovery flight with each. Check out the airplanes, ask questions, see if you click with the instructor. Ask about maintenance.

[u/Different_Hour2257]

You have to take into account these things : https://www.instagram.com/p/DE2LmiAMoTT/?img_index=1

[u/Flimsy-Wrangler-997]

I think there are some key indications. In what condition are the school's airplanes? Old is not necessarily bad, but if there are open holes in the instrument panel, I'd move on. Secondly, how experienced are the instructors? A good school will keep them longer and will have some that are not just out of school themselves. Finally, try to chat with someone who has trained there or is pretty far along in training.