The Impact of School Service Quality on Student Learning Satisfaction: A Comparative Study of Public and Private High Schools in China

ABSTRACT This study examined the relationship between school service quality and student learning satisfaction in public and private high schools in China, considering the influence of students' socioeconomic background and household registration location. A comparative study was conducted using a questionnaire administered to 22,588 students in 20 districts in X City in China. Following the structural equation modelling (SEM), the study found that four factors of school service quality (e.g. reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy) positively influenced student learning satisfaction in both public and private high schools. Additionally, measurement invariance was maintained across different school types, socioeconomic background and household registration location, which validates the comparability of data across these diverse groups. Latent mean comparison revealed that students from private high schools and those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds experienced greater satisfaction with school services quality and learning experience than their peers in public schools and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The study emphasised the need for educational policies that address these disparities to improve the quality of education in public schools and support students from less advantaged backgrounds. Such policies are crucial for promoting equitable educational opportunities and enhancing overall student satisfaction.