We’re constantly encouraging families to reflect carefully on the traits and factors that matter most to them when they’re evaluating which schools to apply to. Choosing a school is all about fit - with your child’s and your family’s needs and values. 

There are many factors that influence whether a certain school is a good fit for your child, including whether a school caters to a single-sex or co-ed student population. New York City is home to many of the leading single-sex private schools in the country, but of course, the city also offers a wide variety of co-ed schools that are equally strong. Here are a few of the considerations you might weigh as you decide whether single-sex or co-ed education is best for your student:

Benefits of a Single-Sex Education

While the neurobiology and psychology of gender is a vast, nuanced field, many experts agree that boys and girls simply do learn a bit differently. One benefit of single-sex schools is that they are precisely tuned to how to teach girls or boys; faculty and staff are experts in educating one gender. Students might find that their teachers are better attuned to their worldviews and needs, ultimately creating a more personalized and, sometimes, more effective learning environment. 

Of course, it’s difficult to truly separate gender-based learning differences from the social factors that come into play when educating both genders at once. Single-sex schools reduce some of this social noise, and allow students to focus on academics and extracurriculars without some of the gender-based pressures that come with being a kid. For example, girls at a girls-only school might feel less reservations about their passion for STEM subjects. Some curriculum might also be themed by gender, such as focusing on female authors in literature class or female leaders in history class. Overall, some students may feel more comfortable in single-sex environments; they may feel safer in taking risks, trying new things, and sharing their voice with their peers. 

Another factor to consider, particularly for older children in middle and high school, is that the inter-student dynamics of the community are very different at single-sex versus co-ed schools. To state the obvious, there is less dating between students at single-sex schools. Some parents might consider this a pro: students can be more focused on their academic experience, and of course they can always participate in other social/dating activities outside of school as desired. Other parents, though, fear that lack of exposure to cross-gender dynamics at a younger age can cause some negative impacts later in life. It’s very difficult to prove these effects one way or the other, though; like everything else, the answer for your family likely comes down to your individual student and their personality. 

Finally, let’s touch on the unique benefits of single-sex schools for girls versus boys. All-girls schools can be particularly beneficial for quieter girls, because they may feel safer and more willing to come out of their shell to embrace multiple facets of their personality. All-boys schools can be particularly beneficial for younger boys, who tend to be “wigglier” and appreciate the more frequent opportunities for recess and PE classes that all-boys schools often offer. 

Benefits of a Co-Ed Education

One of the most obvious benefits of co-ed schools is that they simply better reflect the makeup of adult society. Students are exposed to a wider range of perspectives when learning alongside both girls and boys, and they get more practice cooperating, collaborating, and solving conflicts between genders in ways that might benefit them in their later lives. Children of both genders can develop stronger emotional intelligence by interacting with the opposite gender. 

This dynamic can be particularly important when students transition to college. A common fear among parents is that students who attend a single-sex school will face a jarring transition if they matriculate to a co-ed university; depending on the university, students of both genders might live in close proximity to each other, but at minimum they’ll participate in all classes, extracurriculars, and most social activities together. This transition will be seamless for students who are used to a co-ed educational environment, but might be more challenging, in a variety of ways, for students from an all-girls or all-boys school. 

Another more practical benefit of a co-ed school is that families with multiple children, boys and girls, may be able to send all of their children to the same school. This is logistically easier (in terms of transportation, learning the educational system, etc.), and may also confer some nominal benefits in terms of sibling admissions advantages. 

Overall, the decision between a single-sex school and a co-ed school is very personal, and should come down to your deliberation on what type of environment would best benefit your unique child’s educational and social needs. Both types of schools are beloved by parents and alumni, so it’s unlikely that you’ll choose wrong! 

Weighing the pros and cons of single-sex versus co-ed schools, or any number of other factors that influence which school would be best for your child? Feel free to reach out to us; our NYC admissions consultants are experts on the wide variety of options in New York, and can tailor recommendations to your specific child.