# data[].attributes.headline
"Arguably the single greatest benefit of girls-only education is the greater breadth of educational opportunity which the all-girls classroom can create." 

# data[].attributes.subject
"Arguably the single greatest benefit of girls-only education is the greater breadth of educational opportunity which the all-girls classroom can create." 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One explanation for the fact that girls at single-sex schools are more likely to explore non-traditional subjects, then, might be that the single-sex classroom encourages girls to be daring, to try things that they might otherwise not try. Another explanation is that girls in the girls-only setting have more freedom to explore non-traditional subjects.

# data[].attributes.headline
"Single-gender classrooms can be beneficial, especially for girls. “They can foster better female-to-female relationships, which creates a sense of mutual empowerment and community,” Garton says."

# data[].attributes.subject
"Single-gender classrooms can be beneficial, especially for girls. “They can foster better female-to-female relationships, which creates a sense of mutual empowerment and community,” Garton says."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Is single-gender education better for students? The Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, CA, thinks so, and for over 100 years, it has been educating middle and high school boys. This practice seems to be working for them, but is single-gender education better for most students?

GoodCall® recently took a look at the issue, which is - not surprisingly - complicated.

The pros of single-gender education

Christie Garton, founder and CEO of the 1,000 Dreams Fund, believes that single-gender classrooms can be beneficial, especially for girls. "They can foster better female-to-female relationships, which creates a sense of mutual empowerment and community," Garton says. "Also, the absence of boys - especially in the teen years - can allow for more enhanced class discussions, where girls are more likely to speak up on topics that may feel difficult to talk about otherwise."

The impact of this type of setting cannot be underestimated. "A huge part of promoting women's global success is fostering an environment where girls feel completely comfortable speaking up, voicing their opinions and being heard," Garton explains.

A passionate advocate of single-gender education is Dr. Linda Henman, The Decision Catalyst™ and the author of six books, including Challenge the Ordinary. Henman also taught at an all-girls school before starting her own business, and her daughters attended all-girls schools. She lists several benefits of an all-girls school:

An all-girls environment builds confidence. All leadership positions are held by girls; all the star athletes are girls; all the academic scholarships go to girls. This builds a mindset that girls can and should reach their potential.

The girls are nicer to each other when they don't compete for the attention of boys.

There tend to be fewer discipline problems in an all-girls environment, so teachers and students don't get distracted.

Girls concentrate on studies, not appearances. If they wear uniforms, they can be out of the house minutes after they get up. They don't waste time on hair and makeup.

Studies indicate that girls and women speak less than males in a mixed environment. In an all-girls situation, I had no trouble engendering class participation.

When girls date boys from other schools, all the teenage dating drama doesn't come to school with them.

In conclusion, Henman believes that a single-gender school provides fewer distractions, so the students can focus on academics.

The next advocate is 9-year old Samaira M, who invented CoderBunnyz, a STEM coding board game, and was the youngest speaker at CMG imPACt 2016 Women in Tech, 2017 WIT-Building the SHE-conomy at Microsoft, and has also spoken at tech events in Silicon Valley. Samaira believes that the opposite gender can be a distraction for kids. "I have boys in my class that sometimes do not add but subtract from the value of the class."

She has also noticed something else while speaking at events and talking to women in tech about ways to interest boys and girls in coding and other tech topics. "People think that girls do music and poetry, while boys do math, science, and coding." However, with single-gender education, Samaira explains that students wouldn't be bound by stereotypes. "Boys could try music and poetry more, and girls could excel in math, science, and coding more." Successful approaches to keep girls in STEM provide these types of opportunities.

The cons of single-gender education

While Garton believes that single-gender education can help girls form relationships and develop confidence, she admits that a routine lack of exposure could cause misunderstandings about the opposite sex. "In the workplace, men and women are expected to coexist peacefully, respectfully, and with a mutual understanding of equality, and they must be able to work as a team." However, if employers are not accustomed to the opposite gender, she believes that they may struggle with these workplace dynamics. "This can contribute to workplace gender divides and possibly even harassment," Garton warns.

And Samaira wonders if schools and teachers would be prepared for this change and how it would affect what is taught and how. She also believes that girls will eventually have to work side-by-side with boys. "So it's better to start working with them early."

The science

So, what does the research reveal? It doesn't really support single-gender education. According to Julie Anderson, senior research associate at the Institute for Women's Policy Research, "Studies do not find that girls or boys in single-sex K-12 schools or sex-segregated classrooms for specific subjects perform better than those in co-ed settings."

She understands both sides of the argument, and explains, "Proponents of single-sex education tend to either believe in inherent differences in learning by gender that would be better addressed in a single-sex setting and/or that girls will perform better and be more empowered in an environment free from boys."

And on the other hand, Anderson says, "Opponents are concerned that single-sex schools give undue credence to the differences between boys and girls in a way that perpetuates stereotypes, they point to legal precedent that separate is inherently unequal, and they argue that sex segregation does nothing to address the core issues of bias or disempowerment of girls in co-ed schools." In fact, these are the types of issues that have led to a decline of women in computer science.

But, Anderson reiterates that there is no evidence that single-gender education has an effect on academic performance.

It depends ...

GoodCall® also wanted a few male perspectives, and turned, first, to Dr. Michael Gurian, co-founder of The Gurian Institute, and author of Saving Our Sons: A New Path For Raising Healthy And Resilient Boys.

According to Gurian, whether students in single-gender K-12 schools or colleges perform better is based on two factors:

Whether the teachers/staff are trained in male/female learning differences, and

Whether the teachers/staff use the science-based brain strategies that work for boys and girls.

"One of the reasons single-gender schools often show quicker success results than co-ed schools is the requirement in single-gender schools of training on male/female learning differences."

And this training produces a noticeable difference. "These teachers more quickly inculcate learning, discipline, and social-emotional development strategies that work for both boys and girls."

Gurian does believe that shy and introverted girls may do better in single-gender classrooms, asking more questions, and taking the lead, whereas they might not in a co-ed class.

"Similarly, many boys who are raised without fathers and without enough masculine training to become mature and develop full social-emotional skills will flourish better in single-gender classrooms." Gurian says these students will get male mentoring from teachers and even other male students. "Single-gender teachers are trained in and often specialize in how to build character, social-emotional maturity, and learning success for boys, so these boys succeed."

However, he does not think that a single-gender school is better or a co-ed school is worse. "That kind of 'versus' language creates backlash and is not good for our schools, teachers, or students," Gurian says. "Each way of teaching can be better for certain students."

It's a sentiment shared by Mandy Pekin, CMO of Wyzant. "The best learning environment for children is one that fits their specific needs." Pekin concludes that ultimately, parents need to decide what their child needs and where they can obtain a quality education, instead of just looking for a single-gender education environment.

National

National

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Is Single-Gender Education Better for Students?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Is single-gender education better for students? The Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, CA, thinks so, and for over 100 years, it has been educating middle and high school boys. This practice seems to be working for them, but is single-gender education better for most students?

# data[].attributes.headline
"Advocates say that single gender classrooms make it easier for teachers to prepare gender-specific lessons for students." 

# data[].attributes.subject
"Advocates say that single gender classrooms make it easier for teachers to prepare gender-specific lessons for students." 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The contentious topic of single gender classrooms is again in the spotlight with some policy makers considering gender-specific educational settings in public schools. Although some private schools already have this practice, not all agree that this is the best environment for K-12 students.

Single sex education is common in the 1800's but this changed as the years go by when mixed-gender school environments started to sprout like mushrooms in the 19th century. And although some countries still prefer single gender classrooms, the percentage of mixed-gender schools has increased. There are parents and sectors who maintain that there are more benefits single gender education offers while there are also those who say there are no specific advantages or setbacks proven. Some also emphasize this practice can even be harmful. Here is a look what the proponents and opponents of single gender classrooms have to say.

List of Pros of Single Gender Classrooms

1. Educators can design their teaching style according to gender.
Advocates say that single gender classrooms make it easier for teachers to prepare gender-specific lessons for students. According to studies, boys and girls have different preferences when it comes to learning behaviors. Males are usually more on physical activities while females prefer more interaction with their peers. With this observation in mind, supporters of single gender classrooms say that educators can adjust their teaching style according to gender.

2. They lessen distractions.
Some parents who are in favor of single gender classrooms claim that separating girls from boys will keep students more focused in studying since they will not be conscious of being with members of the opposite sex. They say that having mixed students in a classroom can encourage these kids to get into early relationships as opposed to being in class with only girls or boys.

3. Boys and girls prefer different temperature settings.
Proponents say that usually girls prefer warmer temperatures while boys are more comfortable learning in cooler temperatures. By separating girls from boys in classrooms, school administrators can design their classrooms and set the temperature specifically for boys or girls. If the classroom is conducive for learning, students will be motivated to attend classes and participate in class recitations.

4. They lessen the pressure on students.
Supporters of single gender classroom settings point out that when students are in a mixed-gender setting, there might be some pressure on both girls and boys when it comes to particular subjects like science and mathematics since boys are more comfortable in these subjects while girls excel more in poetry and music. In an all gender classroom, there will be less pressure for both girls and boys and students will be more confident in academics.

5. Research shows that female graduates of single gender education excel more academically than those who come from mixed-gender classroom settings.
Supporters of single gender classrooms point out the outcomes of researches which yielded results that put more weight on gender-specific educational systems where girls score higher on SAT tests and those who were included in the studies say that they spend more time reviewing and doing homework while in high school than those who are distracted with the presence and attention of boys in a classroom where they co-existed.

List of Cons of Single Gender Classrooms

1. This type of environment will not prepare some boys and girls to interact with the opposite sex.
Opponents of single gender classroom environments argue that in some point of their lives, boys and girls will have to co-exist with each other, particularly after college. Work environments, in particular, comprise male and female employees. Being used to people of the same gender might pose a problem once the need to interact with the opposite sex sets in.

2. Single gender classroom settings are not fit for some boys and girls.
Some students work well when with peers of the same gender. Conversely, there are those who are will shine better when in a mixed-classroom setting. There are assertive kids who might intimidate other students in single gender classroom environments. Because of this, critics argue that single gender education does not work at all times and careful consideration should be made before enrolling children in schools.

3. Not all educators are prepared to teach in gender-specific type of environment.
Just as school children might not fit in single gender classrooms, there are also teachers who might not have the skills and preference to teach single gender students. Although educators can use different teaching styles, not all can adapt to teaching all boys or all girls for that matter. For critics, this can affect the type of education children will be getting as well as teaching efficiencies of some teachers.

4. Other options are available to bring out the best in students other than gender-specific settings.
There are a myriad of ways to enhance their skills and abilities in the classroom instead of focusing on single gender education. For those who are against this setting, they believe that the education system should be something that promotes a combination of male and female students and not limit it to gender, color or status.

5. Children, at an early age, should be taught to co-exist so they can face the world's challenges head on.
There is no doubt, the male and female species are different in so many ways. People who oppose single gender classrooms say that preparing students to be with peers of the opposite sex will teach them these differences and make it easier for them to adapt to situations and understand that men and women can compromise and complement each other. On the other hand, single gender classroom settings can affect the social skills of students.

Conclusion

The issue if single gender classrooms are ideal for students will remain a divided topic and controversial. With the views expressed by supporters and critics, deciding whether this is the perfect educational setting can be difficult. Enrolling students in any school needs a lot of consideration and should not only be based on gender. At the end of the day, the parents should talk to their kids when it comes to the type of education they believe suits their children.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Biggest Pros And Cons Of Single Gender Classrooms

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The contentious topic of single gender classrooms is again in the spotlight with some policy makers considering gender-specific educational settings in public schools. Although some private schools already have this practice, not all agree that this is the best environment for K-12 students.

# data[].attributes.headline
"Boys and girls develop at different rates which produces differences in their respectiveacademic learning readiness in the early schooling years."

# data[].attributes.subject
"Boys and girls develop at different rates which produces differences in their respectiveacademic learning readiness in the early schooling years."

# data[].attributes.headline
"In 2001, a British study concluded that nearly every girl regardless of her ability or socioeconomic status performed better in single sex classrooms than co-ed ones."

# data[].attributes.subject
"In 2001, a British study concluded that nearly every girl regardless of her ability or socioeconomic status performed better in single sex classrooms than co-ed ones."

# data[].attributes.headline
"For example, on the whole, girls and boys who are educated in single-sex schools gain more confidence than their coed peers. In addition, they make academic gains above those in co-ed schools."

# data[].attributes.subject
"For example, on the whole, girls and boys who are educated in single-sex schools gain more confidence than their coed peers. In addition, they make academic gains above those in co-ed schools."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Research has shown that single-sex schools have many advantages for their students. On the whole, students educated in single-sex schools have more confidence than their coed peers and perform better academically. In addition, these students tend to not feel the pressures of gender roles and learn to pursue areas that interest them no matter what is considered socially acceptable for their biological sex.

Though it's impossible to make true generalizations about all same-sex schools, the following are commonalities of most of them.

A More Relaxed Environment

Even though many boys' and girls' schools demonstrate high standards of education, they often have more relaxed environments than their co-ed counterparts. These are cultivated in the absence of gendered desires to impress. When students are among peers that are physically similar to them, they do not feel as if they have to prove something about their biological sex, as is often the case for girls and boys in traditional schools.

In addition to being true to themselves and behaving as they please, students in single-sex schools are more willing to take risks when they are not afraid of failing in front of the opposite sex. The resulting classrooms are often dynamic, free, and bursting with ideas and conversation-all hallmarks of a great education.

Same-sex schooling also reduces the formation of cliques in some cases. With oppressive gender stereotypes and gender distraction out of the picture, students can concentrate on their studies and extracurriculars. Some experts say that this lack of pressure and competition gives rise to more welcoming attitudes toward peers of the same biological sex and the easier formation of platonic relationships as well.

Less Gender Stereotyping

Gender stereotypes rarely find their way into and impact same-sex schools, though they persist outside of them. In co-ed schools, students speak and behave in the interest of affirming their gender-related self-concept. In same-sex schools, this is a much less prominent issue and students worry less about whether their behavior is masculine or feminine enough for how they'd like to be perceived.

Teachers in traditional schools tend to unconsciously (and unfairly) differentiate between males and females in their classroom when it comes to academics, behavior, and discipline-sex-segregated schools couldn't do this even if they wanted to. Overall, students in same-sex schools are less likely to feel pressured to act "correctly" in terms of cultural standards for their sex in the eyes of their teachers and peers.

A Curriculum Tailored to Student Needs and Interests

Some same-sex schools train their teachers in gender-specific teaching so that they can take full advantage of the opportunities a sex-segregated classroom affords. Same-sex schools make certain studies more productive and meaningful than co-ed schools.

Teachers at all-male schools can teach books that speak to the male experience. A class discussion of in these schools might involve studying the complicated formation of a young man's identity. In an all-female school, students can read books with strong heroines such as to understand how women's lives are affected by prevailing attitudes toward their sex and how they prevail in spite of these. Carefully-selected topics can benefit students by speaking to the nuanced experiences of a single sex.

Note that same-sex schooling only eliminates gender stereotypes when teachers do not make assumptions about the sex they teach. For example, a teacher in an all-male school can educate their students about how their bodies will change through puberty without making assumptions about their sexual orientation or gender identity. Teachers in all schools should only draw on what they know to be universally true of either sex and keep in mind that sex is not binary.

Article edited by Stacy Jagodowski

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
3 Reasons why single-sex schools may be right for you

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Research has shown that single-sex schools have many advantages for their students. On the whole, students educated in single-sex schools have more confidence than their coed peers and perform better academically. In addition, these students tend to not feel the pressures of gender roles and learn to pursue areas that interest them no matter what is considered socially acceptable for their biological sex.

# data[].attributes.headline
"Girls in single sex state schools get better GCSE results than those in mixed schools, including those from poorer backgrounds."

# data[].attributes.subject
"Girls in single sex state schools get better GCSE results than those in mixed schools, including those from poorer backgrounds."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The age-old debate around single sex schools versus mixed schools is back on the educational agenda once more, with experts from across the education sector still divided on the subject. The number of single sex private schools may have halved in the last 20 years, but the advantages of single sex schools have resurfaced yet again. This is partly due to recent news that girls in single sex state schools get better GCSE results than those in mixed schools, including those from poorer backgrounds. The SchoolDash research found that 75% of pupils at single-sex schools achieved five good GCSEs compared to just 55% in mixed schools.

These figures have opened up the single sex schools debate for discussion again. In this article we look at single sex schools pros and cons and ask which option really does provide the best possible education for our youngest generations?

The advantages of single sex schools

Why are single sex schools good for education? Many educational experts believe that girls and boys have different learning needs and that in single sex schools teachers can use particular techniques designed specifically to suit the gender of their school. Girls, for example, prefer collaborative and discussion-based learning while boys can dominate discussions and group-based teamwork. By using gender specific teaching techniques, staff at single sex schools can get the most out of lesson time and enhance the learning experience for their students. For a huge range of high quality videos to complement your students' learning visit BBC Active Video for Learning.

Some research into gender differences in learning even looks at how girls and boys respond differently to changes in temperature, suggesting that girls prefer warmer rooms while boys prefer to learn in cooler conditions. Single sex schools make it possible to adapt the learning environment to suit the differing needs of boys or girls.

There's a widespread belief that single sex schools help to challenge gender stereotypes and broaden the educational aspirations of both girls and boys. Single sex schools enable girls and boys to feel free to learn and discover any subject, with girls able to pursue interest in male-dominated subjects such as maths and science and boys able to explore music and the arts. Indeed, at the 26 Girls' Day School Trust schools and academies, girls are more than twice more likely to opt for science or engineering degrees at university level than girls nationally.

Are mixed schools the way forward? The other side of the debate

One of the main concerns about single sex education is that it could make it harder for girls and boys to relate to one another in a work or social environment later in life. The purpose of education is not only to teach children academic skills; they should be able to socialise and interact with members of the opposite sex to prepare them for adult life. There is a danger that children in single sex schools can view the other sex in an entirely unrealistic, ideological way. Critics of single sex schools claim that mixed schools are a far better environment for teaching children a broader range of essential life skills.

Mixed schools are arguably kinder and less pressured environments than single sex schools, with less gender specific intensity and a more balanced approach. In single sex schools, girls in particular can be very intense emotionally, which could potentially distract them from achieving their full potential. Some research also indicates that far from breaking down gender stereotypes, sex segregation can actually promote these stereotypes among students. By attending a mixed school, children could be seen to have a head start in life - a natural ability to feel at ease with the opposite sex which is essential for success in their adult life.

It's clear that both genders bring a lot to the table in terms of their own strengths. In mixed sex schools, good teachers should be able to play to these strengths and maximise the competitive and dominant nature of boys and the collaborative, project-based nature of girls to achieve the highest levels of both educational attainment and social development.

The single sex schools debate - what's the conclusion?

Over the decades, the single sex schools versus mixed schools debate has resurfaced frequently with strong opinions on both sides. Many head teachers and educational experts ultimately believe that a school's strengths should be based on the quality of teaching and not purely on the gender of their students. There are many factors that contribute to a truly successful school environment and the gender of the pupils is only one of many contributing factors. As ever, there are strong pros and cons for both single sex and mixed schools. Perhaps the grass is always greener on the other side of the school fence.

BBC Active Video for Learning provides a high quality range of educational videos including a Social Issues and Education category. These educational videos are the finest quality videos ever produced for use in the classroom and are perfect for engaging and captivating your students.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The age-old debate around single sex schools versus mixed schools is back on the educational agenda once more, with experts from across the education sector still divided on the subject. The number of single sex private schools may have halved in the last 20 years, but the advantages of single sex schools have resurfaced yet again.

# data[].attributes.headline
"Elementary school, co-ed classrooms with a majority of female students showed increased academic performance for both boys and girls." 

# data[].attributes.subject
"Elementary school, co-ed classrooms with a majority of female students showed increased academic performance for both boys and girls." 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Should boys and girls be taught separately? Does single-sex education boost academic success? Read the arguments for and against.

# data[].attributes.headline
Girls get nervous around boys because they think they are weird.

# data[].attributes.subject
Girls get nervous around boys because they think they are weird.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Take a look at our pros and cons to help decide if your children would benefit more from attending single-sex schools or by having a mixed-gender education.

Are you wondering about whether to send your children to single sex schools? Will they miss out by not having a mixed-gender education, or will they do better? There are a number of strong opinions on either side of the debate on which type of education is better. It really depends on the individual family and child.
Looking for after-school child care? Find carers in your area now.
If you're trying to make that important decision for your child, here are some pros and cons of single-sex schools to consider:
Pros of all-boys schools

Tailor learning to boy-specific needs
Many experts agree that boys and girls learn in different styles. An all-boys school allows teachers to make slight but significant changes to the way they teach - for instance volume of speaking voice, frequent checks of understanding to maintain focus on the topic, incorporation of motion into learning activities and use of mild team-based competition. This is effective in increasing boys' engagement with the class material and their work ethic.

Build their confidence in the classroom
Because boys tend to mature later than girls, there is sometimes a lot of stress on them at a mixed school as they are constantly being compared to their female classmates. An all-boys learning environment lets boys develop at their own pace, without the comparisons, and helps them build confidence.

Encourage participation in non-traditional subjects
There is a higher participation of boys in non-traditional subjects and extra-curricular activities at single-sex schools. At mixed school, many boys shy away from joining things like choir or drama for fear of being branded unmasculine. At an all-boys school, they can worry less about fitting a gender stereotype, because all participants are boys.

Reduce pressure on the non-sporty
In mixed schools, girls tend to dominate student leadership, organisation and academic honours. This means that boys tend to retreat instead into a more narrowly defined sphere of power where they can assert their own dominance-- almost always sports. This tends to disempower all those boys who are not naturally sporty. In an all-boys school, all the power -- and all the responsibility -- must rest with boys, and they respond well to that challenge.

Pros of all-girls schools

Build their confidence in the classroom
Many girls worry about appearing 'geeky' or 'nerdy' in front of boys, so in the classroom they are embarrassed to raise their hands and step forward with their thoughts. At an all girls school they won't have this inhibition, so they may have more confidence to contribute to class discussions and ask questions, which will help their learning in the long run.

Reduce the amount of classroom disruption
Studies have shown that young boys tend to be more disruptive in the classroom in a mixed-school environment. When teachers have to stop the class to talk to them, it interrupts the lesson and wastes your daughters learning time.

Increase their opportunity for sport involvement
Participation of girls in sport clubs is a lot higher in all-girls schools. This is because in a mixed gender school, sports resources tend to be aimed more at boys' sport participation. Additionally, around boys, many teenage girls are self conscious of the way they look doing sports, so will refrain from taking part.

Boost female independence
All-girls schools can also contribute a great deal to female self-esteem and independence. Teenage girls can see that they don't need boys to make them strong and powerful and that girls can excel in typically male dominated fields such as maths and science.

Cons of single sex schools
As with anything, it's good to consider both sides before you decide what schooling will work best for your son or daughter.

Don't prepare them for 'the real world'
Some experts feel that a mixed school better prepares children for their future 'in the real world', where men and women aren't segregated. When children develop relationships with the other gender, they are provided with experience for later on in life when both genders work alongside each other in all aspects of jobs and professions. The other gender isn't seen as separate, strange or different, but as a normal colleague.

Don't let them experience (and thereby respect) diversity
At school, children are taught to learn to get along with people from other cultures, races, learning styles, ages and backgrounds. It teaches tolerance and acceptance of people's differences and ways of thinking. Why should gender be any different? Mixed gender schools teach students to respect gender differences and similarities from an early age.

Can cause gender stereotyping and undermine gender equality
Often, the only occasions that all-boys and all-girls schools mix is at school discos, prom and other formal events - times when both genders dress up and try to impress the other. This tends to sexualise the other gender, and creates unrealistic expectations of how men and women should look and behave in normal life. Single-sex schools can therefore promote gender stereotyping, and undermine gender equality.

Deny opportunities for mixed gender friendships
We have to respect that there are fundamental differences between genders - whether that's socially or biologically determined. However, these differences are not the same for everyone. For this reason, some girls feel more comfortable making friends with a group of boys, and vice versa. This opportunity to make friends with a group of the other gender doesn't present itself at single-sex schools.

How can you decide if single-sex schools are best for your child?
Sit with your child and make a list of what's working for them at their current school and what's not. If you and your child are seriously considering single-sex schools, see if it's possible for them to shadow a student at a single sex school for a day. If that's not possible, then make sure you go and visit one on an open day. Your child will be able to experience the atmosphere for themselves and be able to compare it to their current mixed school. Additionally, ask current students about their experiences, and how they feel about being in a single gender learning environment.

Write up a list of pros and cons with your child and, when possible, try and reach a decision together. After all, this is their future and their opinion should be worth something in the discussion.

There's no one answer that fits each child and what is right for your child may not be for another. With careful research and open discussions, you can find the right choice for your family.

For help and assistance with your child's education, check out our range of local tutors.

Read Next: 101 After-School Activities for Kids

Read Next: 10 Options for After-School Child Care

Read Next: 10 Ways to Get Kids to Love School

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Take a look at our pros and cons to help decide if your children would benefit more from attending single-sex schools or by having a mixed-gender education. Are you wondering about whether to send your children to single sex schools? Will they miss out by not having a mixed-gender education, ...

# data[].attributes.headline
Mixed genders are distracting for a lot of people

# data[].attributes.subject
Mixed genders are distracting for a lot of people

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Imagine a typical school classroom and you may conjure up images of boys and girls coexisting, learning alongside each other, raising their hands in equal numbers. However, that's not usually the case.

According to 2010 data from NCES and the U.S. Census Bureau, from prekindergarten to senior year of high school, male students outnumber female students significantly in public school classrooms: 54 percent to 46 percent in pre-K and 51 percent to 49 percent from first grade to 12th grade.

So with the disproportionate stats in the American classroom, is it beneficial to separate the sexes from each other? Much debate has centered around this topic for years.

The Case for Single-Gender Classrooms

Jefferson Leadership Academies was in the spotlight in 1999 when it became the first public middle school in the United States to have entirely single-gender classes. Its reason? Research showed that girls did better in math and science in all-girl settings. This decision came just a few years after Failing at Fairness: How Our Schools Cheat Girls - a book that argues that gender bias prevents girls from receiving education equal to that of their male counterparts - was published by two American University professors.

Of course, single-gender education in grade schools didn't start in 1999, as it existed in the 18th century before coeducation started to trend in the 19th century. However, it picked up steam in the late '90s, especially when the Supreme Court made a ruling in the United States v. Virginia case involving male-only military college Virginia Military Institute. The conclusion: Single-sex classrooms were only constitutional if comparable resources were available to both genders. In 2006, the No Child Left Behind Act added a provision giving single-sex classrooms and schools the ability to exist as long as they are voluntary. From 1995 to 2006, the number of single-sex schools in the United States rose from 3 to 241.

There are many reasons why people advocate for single-gender classrooms, including less distraction (especially during teenage years when hormones rage), less " gender intensification " where coed settings reinforce stereotypes, and more instruction tailored to the unique ways boys and girls learn.
Approximately 30% of Catholic high schools in America are single-sex. See why you might consider a Catholic school, even if you're not Catholic.

The Case Against Single-Gender Classrooms

In 2007, Jefferson Leadership Academies reversed its same-sex curriculum after issues with disappointing test scores and scheduling conflicts arose. Detractors of same-sex classrooms weren't surprised since one of the biggest challenges to single-sex classrooms is the lack of concrete evidence that they boost achievement. As Margaret Talbot wrote in her 2012 New Yorker piece, "The evidence wasn't very good then [the '90s] for a gap between the genders' learning styles so significant that it would mandate separate instruction, and it hasn't gotten any better."

Plus, another argument against single-gender schools is that the real world doesn't afford a society where students can work with or interact with one gender over another. Thus, when it comes time for these students to head into the workforce, or even to college, they will face an adjustment period.

Related to college, one of the biggest reasons why single-gender classes popped up in the '90s was to help women do better in the classroom, but recent statistics show that women attend college in larger numbers, outnumbering men by 14 percent.

In fact, girls are less likely than boys to be held back in American schools, too, so some argue that the effort put into helping girls in the classroom may be counterintuitive when the boys are the ones who aren't doing as well.

Pros and Cons of Single-Sex Education

The Bottom Line

It may seem like a new development in education, but single-sex education is actually a throwback to curriculum systems of yesteryear, from way back before the 19th century. The factor that's changed is simply the reason behind the implementation, which may continue to evolve as new trends and legislation emerge. It remains to be proven whether single-sex classrooms are beneficial to students.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Imagine a typical school classroom and you may conjure up images of boys and girls coexisting, learning alongside each other, raising their hands in equal numbers. However, that's not usually the case. According to 2010 data from NCES and the U.S.