My DD went to a girls high school. I don't know if she learned more in specific subjects although the school was very rigorous and girls were expected to do well. What did make a difference is confidence (eg to speak up in class, to speak in front of the school), leadership (team captains, student government etc are all girls) and some freedom from distractions (significantly less time spent texting and Facebook chatting members of the opposite sex compared to my child in coed school). She is now in a coed college and seems to have no problem interacting with boys after 4 yrs in a single sex school. I agree with the pp who suggested that 12 years of all girls may be a bit much.

Anonymous wrote:In January 2012, a study of the University of Pennsylvania was published, involving a randomized experiment, considered the experiment with the highest level of scientific evidence. The data comes from schools in Korea, where a law was passed randomly assigning students to schools in their district. The study by Park, Berhman and Choi titled Causal Effects of Single-Sex Schools on College Entrance Exams and College Attendance: Random Assignment in Seoul High Schools concluded that "“Attending all-boys schools or all-girls schools rather than attending coeducational schools is significantly associated with higher average scores.”

You should consider this study, if your daughter wants to go to school... in Korea.

In January 2012, a study of the University of Pennsylvania was published, involving a randomized experiment, considered the experiment with the highest level of scientific evidence. The data comes from schools in Korea, where a law was passed randomly assigning students to schools in their district. The study by Park, Berhman and Choi titled Causal Effects of Single-Sex Schools on College Entrance Exams and College Attendance: Random Assignment in Seoul High Schools concluded that "“Attending all-boys schools or all-girls schools rather than attending coeducational schools is significantly associated with higher average scores.”

Why not send DD to co-ed private or public for elementary school, and then switch to single sex middle and high school?

I went to an all girls school. I loved it. My school years were an amazing experience. I think the all girls environment allows girls to better just be themselves. You have much less peer pressure and more focus on academics vs. boys or how you look, what you're wearing, etc.. That being said, if I had a daughter, I would either do all girls K-8, then a co-ed high school or a co-ed K-8 and an all girls HS because I think exposure to the opposite sex is a good thing. I have to admit that I never really had a male friend (who wasn't gay at least). Many of my classmates could say the same thing. College was a cultural shock for some of the girls and within months of Freshman year, they made up for lost time with the male sex. I felt like the girls who had been at co-ed schools were more confident around boys than I was.

Mael, F., Alonso, A., Gibson, D., Rogers, K., & Smith, M. (2005).
Single-sex versus coeducational schooling: A systematic review. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Of?ce of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, Policy and Program Studies Service

Halpern, D. F., Eliot, L., Bigler, R. S., Fabes, R. A., Hanish, L. D., Hyde,
J., . . . Martin, C. L. (2011, September 23). The pseudoscience of
single-sex schooling. Science, 333, 1706 –1707. doi:10.1126/science
.1205031

PP's study was "commissioned by the National Association of Girls Schools." Perhaps someone can post some independent research links....

http://gseis.ucla.edu/sudikoff/archive/pdfs/genderstudies/Summary_SingleSexEd_Sax.pdf

UCLA study from 2009 on girls' school alums. Pretty convincing to me, but certainly every kid is different. There's no one magic solution.

Research reflects the population mean. Need to take into account your child's individuality when assessing research findings.

Anonymous wrote:BS pp

Do the research.

BS pp

There is no credible research supporting the idea that there are any educational advantages to single sex education. There is credible research suggesting that single sex education reinforces gender stereotypes.

Yes -- a lot has been written on the topic -- just google it.

I heard some girls do better in math and science if they attend all girl schools. What about other subjects such as language, arts, and history?