Thinking About Single-Sex Education

At one time, parents might have chosen an all-girls or all-boys school in hopes of limiting their children’s interactions with the opposite sex. Today’s parents, however, may have different reasons for selecting a single-sex school for their children.

For many of the families interviewed for this article, single-sex education was not the main reason for their choice. It was the resulting learning environment. For Chestnut Hill Academy parent Amy Helstrom “the single-sex aspect was secondary, but also included a number of benefits that have seemed to work for our son.”

Some of the benefits most often identified by families and educators include a more responsive approach to learning differences, a greater emphasis on academics, and more opportunities for confidence-building. Maria Rossman, whose daughter is a kindergartner at the Springside School, feels that single sex education “allows children of either gender to develop to their highest potential.”

Mt. Airy resident and parent Stephanie Clark remembers her experiences as a student at Philadelphia High School for Girls as liberating. “Even though it was an artificial environment, I was able to see women in positions of leadership, and I wasn't fearful to become involved and run for leadership positions myself,” said Clark.

Single-sex schools also offer the possibility of a less restrictive learning environment when it comes to peer pressure and gender roles. Chestnut Hill parent Melissa Haims, a graduate of an all-girls school herself, chose the Springside School for her daughter in part because “it allows your child to be a child for a bit longer.” Haims feels that “in a single-sex environment, the kids are free to explore themselves without the pressure of gender expectations.”

Critics charge that single-sex schools prevent students from learning how to navigate the complex reality of gender differences and societal attitudes. Students are isolated in these artificially homogenous environments rather than taught how to manage the sorts of issues that they will eventually face as adults. Both Clark and Haims recalled transitions that were at times difficult once they left their all-girls schools.

Some schools, however, have adopted changes in hopes of ensuring a smoother transition without taking anything away from the single-sex experience. The Chestnut Hill Academy and Springside School formed a partnership that provides upper grade students from both schools an opportunity to interact with the opposite sex in a classroom setting. Students share classes, faculty, and even resources. The partnership also offers opportunities for both middle school and high school students to interact in other ways: coed community service learning projects, musical and dramatic productions, trips, and dances.

Today’s single-sex schools are attracting families who might not have considered these schools. Helstrom called her decision to send her son to a single-sex school very unexpected, but is glad that she and her husband considered the school because it’s been a good fit. Although like all parents interviewed for this series, Helstrom stressed the importance of finding a school that fits the child. It’s a highly personal choice and a school that works well for one child may not be the best option for another.

For families considering single-sex education, there are several independent and parochial school options in Philadelphia, including the independent Chestnut Hill Academy for boys and Springside School for girls in northwest Philadelphia. Within a relatively close commuting distance are several other private, single-sex schools in the Main Line communities.

Some people are surprised to learn that there are also public, single-sex schools in the area.  Philadelphia High School for Girls—commonly known as Girls' High—has been educating young women in Philadelphia since 1848. The Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School is a more recently created single-sex public school. And although not single-sex schools in the traditional sense, some coed public schools are offering single-sex classrooms and split campuses.

For more information on single-sex schools in our area, contact the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and the School District of Philadelphia.