Is an elementary school a public good?

An elementary school can be considered a public good in the sense that it provides essential education services that benefit society as a whole. Public goods are typically characterized by being non-excludable and non-rivalrous, meaning that one person's use does not detract from another's, and people cannot be easily excluded from accessing the service. However, while public schools are funded by taxpayer money and aim to serve the community, they may not fully meet the strict economic definition of a public good since access can sometimes be limited by geographic or enrollment criteria.