Equate
Part of speech: verb
Definition: To consider equal, to state as being equivalent.
Compare
Part of speech: verb
Definition: To assess the similarities and differences between two or more things ["to compare X with Y"]. Having made the comparison of X with Y, one might have found it similar to Y or different from Y.To declare two things to be similar in some respect ["to compare X to Y"].To form the three degrees of comparison of (an adjective).To be similar (often used in the negative).
Example sentence: Second, when comparing private school and public school test scores, it's like apples and oranges. Public schools have to take everyone, but private schools can be selective. It's not accurate or fair to compare the job they do.