This article examines the determinants of private school choice for elementary school students in India with emphasis on school characteristics. We also analyze the gender differences in the demand for private schools among the households, a relatively less explored issue in the school choice literature in India. We find that private schools are preferred by families when they have high teacher attendance, employ local teachers, and have better parental participation in parent-teacher associations/meetings. Our results suggest that better/quality education and English as the medium of instruction are major factors in influencing parents to choose private schools. While female students are less likely to attend private schools, the gender gap narrows as family economic status and the mother's education improve.