It really depends on what you are looking for in a cooking class. I can give you some thoughts from my own personal experiences, but I am sure there are many factors that you must consider, so you will get a variety of answers.

I am assuming you are talking about recreational (that is the industry term, as opposed to professional) classes; I don't claim to have good advise for choosing professional programs to become a line cook or patisserie on a career path to being a chef or pastry chef.

Facilities

The cooking school should tell where their class is taught. A local community class in a high school home-ec room or in a community center will usually offer basic facilities (although I imagine some will stun you...)

Commercial cooking schools or businesses should have photos of their classroom for you to peruse, and will usually brag about the equipment they offer (such as Viking stoves...)

Look at the pictures, and ask if the environment will be comfortable for you.

Level

How advanced is the class? If you already know how to temper your own chocolate, and own three dipping forks, you don't want to take a basic workshop in chocolate. On the other hand, if you have never made a biscuit, you might not want to take an advanced pasty course where croissants and puff pastry the order of the day.

Choose a class that is at the level you desire--the course guide should make this very clear.

Cleanup

Find out if the school has interns, or other staff who do the cleanup. Commercial schools tend to--otherwise, you might expect to be helped police and do dishes, especially in a community program like one hosted at a community center. You should be comfortable with the expectation.

Curriculum or Menu

Good cooking classes list exactly what dishes or items will be taught in the class in their class guide or curriculum. They should also specify the lessons learned or techniques applied. Often there is a theme, like "Valentines Dinner for Two" or "Pastry Intensive" Select classes that teach the techniques you want, and dishes you like.

Duration

Is it a one evening class, where you are in and out, and little is at risk, or a week long adventure where if you don't enjoy the format or the instructor, you have lost a week's tuition and a week's enjoyment. I once didn't come back from lunch on the 2nd day of a five day course because I didn't like the instructor's style.

For longer classes, you might ask for guarantees of a partial refund if the instructor or style or presentation is not to your liking, before signing up.

For day long and longer classes, find out if lunches or other relevant meals are provided (at commercial schools, they often are, either cooked as part of your curriculum, or done by staff or interns for your enjoyment), or whether you bring your own. Often there is not enough time to go out for lunch.

Presentation and Participation

There are several main ways cooking classes are taught; you want to be sure the style is one that you enjoy.

• Presentation only -- the instructor prepares dishes at the front of the room, and the students watch. Kind of like a cooking show on TV, but live and in person, so you can smell (and maybe taste afterwards), and ask questions.
• Each person (or group) prepares some -- the class is broken up into groups or individuals, each of whom prepare one or more dishes from the menu. You might not get to do the dish you wanted from the curriculum, but you will get hands-on for something. Usually, the groups will share afterwards, so you get to taste everything.
• Every person (or group) prepares everything -- you will get to prepare everything listed in the curriculum, and usually eat it.

Choose a format you are comfortable with, especially if you want to be sure you get to try a specific dish hands-on.

Pacing

When you evaluate the curriculum or menu, the manner of presentation, and the overall duration of the course, you should have some idea of how fast it goes.

Make sure you are comfortable with the pace. If you like a slow and pleasant pace, you don't want to be a in class where folks are expected to knock out their dishes fast--although those are often more the advanced classes at commercial schools.

Ingredients

Find out whether you bring your own ingredients, or they are supplied. (Most commercial cooking schools supply them, but community programs may not.)

Cost

Cost counts. Need I say more?

General

Talk to the folks at the school's customer service line (if they have one) if you have questions. Take a short class at the school to evaluate the facilities and their general style before splurging on a longer or more expensive class.

And bring your patience. By the nature of the beast, you often sit through things you know, or repetitions, or have to wait through lectures and demos before the hands-on portion.

If you can, bring a friend to share the experience, gossip with, and generally have a good time, should you be so disposed.

Bon chance.