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?

DD attends an all girls school. And we treat coed opportunities the same way we treat other experiences that aren't readily available in either her neighborhood or school. We create opportunities or find those experiences as part of her extra-curricular.

at her school a few activities are coed in MS and HS, including a few classes.
She still prefers single sex activities, and is actively growing friendships with boys.
she doesn't demonstrate romantic interest of any kind.

She also is not the student rolling up her skirt. In fact, in shopping for dresses for special occasions, she is demanding no cleavage, longer hem lines, not too tight. She is in HS.
THere are certainly girls I see on campus that are doing those things, but my duaghter's experience is for most of her friend circles. I think you will find some of each of these behaviors in public schools, co ed schools, single sex schools, boarding schools, etc.

a close family member graduated from a coed school went to a coed college and is now well into her 20s. she also demonstrates no active romantic interests. she verbalizes that relationships do not fit with the goals she has right now and often makes comments about an oppressive patriarchy. This comes from the student who attended nothing but coed schools.

DD attends an all girls school. And we treat coed opportunities the same way we treat other experiences that aren't readily available in either her neighborhood or school.

at her school a few activities are coed in MS and HS, including a few classes.
She still prefers single sex activities, and is actively growing friendships with boys.
she doesn't demonstrate romantic interest of any kind.

She also is not the student rolling up her skirt. In fact, in shopping for dresses for special occasions, she is demanding no cleavage, longer hem lines, not too tight. She is in HS.
THere are certainly girls I see on campus that are doing those things, but my duaghter's experience is for most of her friend circles. I think you will find some of each of these behaviors in public schools, co ed schools, single sex schools, boarding schools, etc.

a close family member graduated from a coed school went to a coed college and is now well into her 20s. she also demonstrates no active romantic interests. she verbalizes that relationships do not fit with the goals she has right now and often makes comments about an oppressive patriarchy. This comes from the student who attended nothing but coed schools.

Anonymous wrote:Take a good look at the grading system, which has hurt the girls with respect to applying for college. very important fact

This has to be a Holton parent. Grade deflation happening there.

"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.

"3/30/2022 07:34 Subject: Re:All Girls School - Pros and Cons? [Up]
Anonymous

Take a good look at the grading system, which has hurt the girls with respect to applying for college. very important fact
[Report Post]"


What do you mean by this?

"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.

Take a good look at the grading system, which has hurt the girls with respect to applying for college. very important fact

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.

Potomac School would have been a better choice or Sidwell.

DD goes to all girls school for HS after co-Ed k-8. One difference to her is there isn’t any of the in-class disruption she feels boys provided in k-8 (no one ever gets in trouble in class, girls all do their homework, pay attention, etc) and even though she’s quite a serious student herself, she surprisingly misses that occasional diversion. She feels some of the boys’ more boisterous energy provided a levity she misses. There also hasn’t been much interaction with the brother school—that might be from Covid though).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve had a fantastic experience for our daughter. It’s twice the options for forming girl friendships which is a plus. My daughter has come out of her shell and developed confidence both in and out of the classroom. Getting to your final bullet point, she has brothers. I’m not sure I personally would have made the same choice for her otherwise. I do think you need to make an effort to have some co-ed environments for your daughter, whether in summer camps or extracurriculars or Sunday school/temple, etc.

Oh and there have been no mean girls issues, honestly. I can’t speak for all all-girls schools, but the environment at my daughter’s school is inclusive and warm.

There is no mean girls crap in DD’s school in part, I think, because there are no boys to fight over.

DD goes to an all-girls school and loves it. It depends on the school but the Brearley girls in NYC don’t seem to be suffering.

Girls develop a real confidence and leadership skills in all-girls settings. They do not have to worry about how they look and appearing "too smart" for the boys.

When I was growing up, all of us Catholics went to single sex schools (southern Ohio). We had a partner boys school.

If you look at rosters of women CEOs (many went to single sex high schools or colleges). Girls are given the freedom to soar.

Anonymous wrote:We’ve had a fantastic experience for our daughter. It’s twice the options for forming girl friendships which is a plus. My daughter has come out of her shell and developed confidence both in and out of the classroom. Getting to your final bullet point, she has brothers. I’m not sure I personally would have made the same choice for her otherwise. I do think you need to make an effort to have some co-ed environments for your daughter, whether in summer camps or extracurriculars or Sunday school/temple, etc.

Oh and there have been no mean girls issues, honestly. I can’t speak for all all-girls schools, but the environment at my daughter’s school is inclusive and warm.

We’ve had a fantastic experience for our daughter. It’s twice the options for forming girl friendships which is a plus. My daughter has come out of her shell and developed confidence both in and out of the classroom. Getting to your final bullet point, she has brothers. I’m not sure I personally would have made the same choice for her otherwise. I do think you need to make an effort to have some co-ed environments for your daughter, whether in summer camps or extracurriculars or Sunday school/temple, etc.