When it comes to flight schools, there are only two categories they can fall under. Part 141 and part 61. Both of these types of schools reference a different section to the FAA regulations that govern them.
Part 61 schools seem to be the most common and are the route most recreational pilots take to get their license. You’ll still have to prove your proficiency during the written and practical exam and your instructor will still teach you everything you need to know. The difference lies in part 61 of the FAR/AIM or Federal Aviation Regulations/Aeronautical Information Manual.
If you open up the FAR/AIM to part 61 you’ll find it doesn’t say that much about how the flight schools need to operate. What it does cover is what you, as the student, will need to know to successfully pass your practical exam or checkride. This section of the FAR/AIM is designed to give flight schools more flexibility in how they teach, but it doesn’t loosen the skills requirements.
Under part 141 if the FAR/AIM, you’ll find some very clear direction given to flight schools about how they must operate. You’ll still have to meet all of the same performance standards, but you’ll have a course directed by the FAA in very specific ways.
There is one very clear benefit to attending a part 141 school and that’s the amount of time you need to put in before you can take your practical exam. Because it’s more closely controlled by the FAA, you only need to complete 35 hours of flight time rather than the 40 hours required at a part 61 school. But, don’t get too excited, if you’re like most student pilots you’re going to be putting in more than 50 hours of training before you’re ready. So it may not matter.
Maybe this leads you to believe you need a 141 school to get the best flight training. Before you make a decision, interview several flight instructors. Maybe even invest in taking each out to lunch. You’ll get to know them a lot better and they’ll get a free meal, which helps since they don’t make what they should. Then pick someone you know you’re going to enjoy hanging around with.
The bottom line is, you’ll get as much out of your instruction as you put into it. There are plenty of outstanding pilots who come out of mediocre schools and plenty of mediocre pilots who come out of outstanding aircraft schools. You’re the only one who will determine what kind of pilot you are.