My son and daughter attend single gender Catholic schools this year. Enrollment is not open which provides a form of ability grouping. Every class requires a lot of work and study. I am surprised by how many notes my daughter takes even in PE and the difficulty of my son�s tests, especially math (semester final was 90 alg1 problems in 90 minutes-no calculator), but we are really pleased with the equally strong education they are receiving.
The girls who attend my daughter�s small school have the same qualities I admire in her Girl Scout friends. Approximately 25% of the staff are male. I don�t believe there are currently any nuns as teachers. Aside from the rigorous academic curriculum, her school has a strong focus on the performing arts.
Actually, I believe the greater benefit from a single gender education may actually go to the boys. My son�s school has mostly male teachers who treat the boys differently than other teachers he has had �parts drill sergeant, coach, and mentor. All of the teachers have made a choice to work with boys and understand them well. I don�t think any of the teachers from their previous school favored working with boys over girls.
There are many single gender private high schools in this area. My son�s school hosts �mixers� quite frequently and they are very well attended by boys and many, many girls from other schools. My daughter and her friends always go to the high school parties at his school. The boys there have excellent social skills with the girls -at least in front of the mothers.
