Exporting feature class into multiple feature classes based on field values using ArcGIS Desktop?

You may use the Split By Attributes tool:

Splits an input dataset by unique attributes

There are versions available for:

• ArcGIS Pro (available at all license levels)
• ArcGIS Desktop 10.8 (available at all license levels)
• USGS versions (Split By Attribute Tool)

You can achieve this with a very simple model if you have ArcGIS 10.0 or higher.

Create a model with Feature Iterator where the group by field is the attribute you wish to select by then send the output to the copy features tool using inline substitution to ensure a unique file name. The model is shown below:

I do not have access to ArcMap 10, only 9.3, but I expect that it won't be very different from this.

You can create a simple script in Python, that checks your attribute field for different values, and then, for each of them runs a SELECT operation to your original Shapefile.

If you are not familiar with python scripting, all you need to do is open you IDLE (the python GUI) create a new file, and copy the code below. After adapting the code for your my_shapefile, outputdir and my_attribute it should work.

# Script created to separate one shapefile in multiple ones by one specific
# attribute

# Example for a Inputfile called "my_shapefile" and a field called "my_attribute"
import arcgisscripting

# Starts Geoprocessing
gp = arcgisscripting.create(9.3)
gp.OverWriteOutput = 1

#Set Input Output variables
inputFile = u"C:\\GISTemp\\My_Shapefile.shp" #<-- CHANGE
outDir = u"C:\\GISTemp\\" #<-- CHANGE

# Reads My_shapefile for different values in the attribute
rows = gp.searchcursor(inputFile)
row = rows.next()
attribute_types = set([])

while row:
    attribute_types.add(row.my_attribute) #<-- CHANGE my_attribute to the name of your attribute
    row = rows.next()

# Output a Shapefile for each different attribute
for each_attribute in attribute_types:
    outSHP = outDir + each_attribute + u".shp"
    print outSHP
    gp.Select_analysis (inputFile, outSHP, "\"my_attribute\" = '" + each_attribute + "'") #<-- CHANGE my_attribute to the name of your attribute

del rows, row, attribute_types, gp

#END