All Girls School - Pros and Cons?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I taught at an all-girls school in this area for years. There are many positive aspects of single-sex education, and the girls themselves were wonderful and worked so hard.

I would not, however, make that choice for my own daughters -- especially one as homogenous as my school. When you take a group of students of the same gender and of mostly the same background, socio-economic status, race, ambition, and academic capabilities, what you get is unbelievably unhealthy competitions, self-images, and behaviors.

Some alumnae remain close to a few teachers, but there's an obvious pattern that it takes most graduates years (as in, around age 35) to get to a place of feeling positive about their experience. Think about it. Do the alumnae you know actually talk about their school with any affection?

They do at my daughters’ school. The glowing reviews of the alumni was one of the reasons we chose it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"My daughter is a senior at a good size all girls school. I would not repeat an all girls school. The comment about weird about the boy interaction is accurate in my opinion. She is now going off to college and does not know how to interact "normally" with boys."

Do you mind sharing if she went to an all girls school all the way through from K? And did she have any outside boy influences outside of school? And I am sure she will blossom in a healthy way with boys in college!! We all take our time in that department. I am sure you have prepared her well.

response to above yes she went 3rd grade through senior. a 10 year girl. I am hoping she moves into healthy relationships in college. Worried though as the school promised many more interactions than actually happened. She has some outside of school in sports. These girls seem to think it is normal to go to prom with the other girls(they are all straight). I mean it is great they are comfortable with each other, but when we are in other circumstances, she is awkward I can tell.

As far as the grading system, which they are changing not until 2025 I believe, these 90, 91, 92's actually hurt the students gpa wise when applying to college and factoring the true gpa. ie, if you do not receive above a 93 say for instance it hurts you. She had a cumulation of 91-98, however in the long run, her gpa in a public schjool or another school would have been higher. Also the honors count for 1/2 of an ap class, which is another ding.

This is definitely a little weird. OP, I would make sure that the school has a strong affiliation with a nearby boys' school, for sports, academics, ECs and socializing. I think that's an important component.

[Anonymous]

I went to an all girls school and never had issues in college with making male friends or having men in the class with me. I do have brothers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"My daughter is a senior at a good size all girls school. I would not repeat an all girls school. The comment about weird about the boy interaction is accurate in my opinion. She is now going off to college and does not know how to interact "normally" with boys."

Do you mind sharing if she went to an all girls school all the way through from K? And did she have any outside boy influences outside of school? And I am sure she will blossom in a healthy way with boys in college!! We all take our time in that department. I am sure you have prepared her well.

response to above yes she went 3rd grade through senior. a 10 year girl. I am hoping she moves into healthy relationships in college. Worried though as the school promised many more interactions than actually happened. She has some outside of school in sports. These girls seem to think it is normal to go to prom with the other girls(they are all straight). I mean it is great they are comfortable with each other, but when we are in other circumstances, she is awkward I can tell.

As far as the grading system, which they are changing not until 2025 I believe, these 90, 91, 92's actually hurt the students gpa wise when applying to college and factoring the true gpa. ie, if you do not receive above a 93 say for instance it hurts you. She had a cumulation of 91-98, however in the long run, her gpa in a public schjool or another school would have been higher. Also the honors count for 1/2 of an ap class, which is another ding.

This is definitely a little weird. OP, I would make sure that the school has a strong affiliation with a nearby boys' school, for sports, academics, ECs and socializing. I think that's an important component.

It’s actually the norm these days. A lot of kids in the local public schools as well as at coed schools go with friend groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught at an all-girls school in this area for years. There are many positive aspects of single-sex education, and the girls themselves were wonderful and worked so hard.

I would not, however, make that choice for my own daughters -- especially one as homogenous as my school. When you take a group of students of the same gender and of mostly the same background, socio-economic status, race, ambition, and academic capabilities, what you get is unbelievably unhealthy competitions, self-images, and behaviors.

Some alumnae remain close to a few teachers, but there's an obvious pattern that it takes most graduates years (as in, around age 35) to get to a place of feeling positive about their experience. Think about it. Do the alumnae you know actually talk about their school with any affection?

They do at my daughters’ school. The glowing reviews of the alumni was one of the reasons we chose it.

PP had it correct. Girls’ schools have alumnae, not alumni.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught at an all-girls school in this area for years. There are many positive aspects of single-sex education, and the girls themselves were wonderful and worked so hard.

I would not, however, make that choice for my own daughters -- especially one as homogenous as my school. When you take a group of students of the same gender and of mostly the same background, socio-economic status, race, ambition, and academic capabilities, what you get is unbelievably unhealthy competitions, self-images, and behaviors.

Some alumnae remain close to a few teachers, but there's an obvious pattern that it takes most graduates years (as in, around age 35) to get to a place of feeling positive about their experience. Think about it. Do the alumnae you know actually talk about their school with any affection?

They do at my daughters’ school. The glowing reviews of the alumni was one of the reasons we chose it.

Which glowing reviews? The conversations that the admissions office lined up for you? Or had as testimonials in marketing videos and viewbooks?

[Anonymous]

My daughter attends Holton (which sounds a lot like the school you described). This is her 5th year there and she’s been having a great experience. She’s involved in theater (with Landon) and hangs out with boys on some weekends. No awkwardness there. There is some meanness with classmates (as there is everywhere) but it’s easy to avoid and outweighed a lot of really great girls. DD’s only looking at coed colleges- but she’s enjoyed not dealing with some of the silliness and stress that is part of a coed high school. Good luck with your decision!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught at an all-girls school in this area for years. There are many positive aspects of single-sex education, and the girls themselves were wonderful and worked so hard.

I would not, however, make that choice for my own daughters -- especially one as homogenous as my school. When you take a group of students of the same gender and of mostly the same background, socio-economic status, race, ambition, and academic capabilities, what you get is unbelievably unhealthy competitions, self-images, and behaviors.

Some alumnae remain close to a few teachers, but there's an obvious pattern that it takes most graduates years (as in, around age 35) to get to a place of feeling positive about their experience. Think about it. Do the alumnae you know actually talk about their school with any affection?

They do at my daughters’ school. The glowing reviews of the alumni was one of the reasons we chose it.

Which glowing reviews? The conversations that the admissions office lined up for you? Or had as testimonials in marketing videos and viewbooks? [/quote

No actually my husband went to Brown with several of the school’s alumnae and he contacted them to ask their opinion before our daughters applied. They had glowing reviews about their experience there.

[Anonymous]

I went to an all girls school, in the 6th grade all the way to 11th grade. I loved it, but I also hated it. There is way to much drama there that you I was never a part of and they somehow always pulled me into it. The work is challenging. I like that. But learning things that are two grades above me, is a bit overwhelming. Teachers don’t understand that we have other activities after school and still assign a book to be finished by the next day. The athletics were never fair, and since we were a private school, we had to do athletics at nearby schools. And the people at the other schools weren’t accepting simply because we were an all girls school and we never went there. And MS doesn’t do ANYTHING compared to what HS does. If all girls schools are supposed to be “oh yeah!!! Girl power!!!” then why is everything so unfair? BUT I love my friends, if you get the right ones, it’ll be fine with the drama. The teachers also pick favourites, but that’s okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to an all girls school, in the 6th grade all the way to 11th grade. I loved it, but I also hated it. There is way to much drama there that you I was never a part of and they somehow always pulled me into it. The work is challenging. I like that. But learning things that are two grades above me, is a bit overwhelming. Teachers don’t understand that we have other activities after school and still assign a book to be finished by the next day. The athletics were never fair, and since we were a private school, we had to do athletics at nearby schools. And the people at the other schools weren’t accepting simply because we were an all girls school and we never went there. And MS doesn’t do ANYTHING compared to what HS does. If all girls schools are supposed to be “oh yeah!!! Girl power!!!” then why is everything so unfair? BUT I love my friends, if you get the right ones, it’ll be fine with the drama. The teachers also pick favourites, but that’s okay.

Where is your mommy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to an all girls school, in the 6th grade all the way to 11th grade. I loved it, but I also hated it. There is way to much drama there that you I was never a part of and they somehow always pulled me into it. The work is challenging. I like that. But learning things that are two grades above me, is a bit overwhelming. Teachers don’t understand that we have other activities after school and still assign a book to be finished by the next day. The athletics were never fair, and since we were a private school, we had to do athletics at nearby schools. And the people at the other schools weren’t accepting simply because we were an all girls school and we never went there. And MS doesn’t do ANYTHING compared to what HS does. If all girls schools are supposed to be “oh yeah!!! Girl power!!!” then why is everything so unfair? BUT I love my friends, if you get the right ones, it’ll be fine with the drama. The teachers also pick favourites, but that’s okay.

Are you American? I ask because you use the British spelling of favorite.

But also, nothing you describe has to do with being a girls’ school. Just a not very good school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to an all girls school, in the 6th grade all the way to 11th grade. I loved it, but I also hated it. There is way to much drama there that you I was never a part of and they somehow always pulled me into it. The work is challenging. I like that. But learning things that are two grades above me, is a bit overwhelming. Teachers don’t understand that we have other activities after school and still assign a book to be finished by the next day. The athletics were never fair, and since we were a private school, we had to do athletics at nearby schools. And the people at the other schools weren’t accepting simply because we were an all girls school and we never went there. And MS doesn’t do ANYTHING compared to what HS does. If all girls schools are supposed to be “oh yeah!!! Girl power!!!” then why is everything so unfair? BUT I love my friends, if you get the right ones, it’ll be fine with the drama. The teachers also pick favourites, but that’s okay.

You resurrected a two-year-old thread for this?

[Anonymous]

OP, I teach at an all girls school in the area and can tell you, it has exceeded all expectations. It is a fantastic environment

[Anonymous]

My daughter who attended co-ed thru 8th and all girls for HS, said all-girls has a lack of levity that boys bring into the class room. Without boys in class, girls also seem more likely to complain and cry in class.

Her school implies lots of interaction with the brother school, but in reality, that is very minimal. She graduated this year without ever having a date beyond a set-up for a dance which is common. It's a bit daunting to have a girl go off to college without any prior personal relationship experience with boys. If she had it to do over, she'd go co-ed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter who attended co-ed thru 8th and all girls for HS, said all-girls has a lack of levity that boys bring into the class room. Without boys in class, girls also seem more likely to complain and cry in class.
.

Wow, not my experience at all. My all-girls school was loud and hilarious. I liked being free to be a class clown (one of several), instead of guys presumptively having that role.