Data from standardized test scores shows boys are
falling further behind in literacy each year. Thanks
to countless hours of research, we can pinpoint some
of the causes for this decline. The major challenge
educators face is how to keep boys interested in
reading while placed in classrooms not necessarily
designed to meet their needs. One option being
explored is the use of single-sex classrooms. For
over 160 years in the United States, public school
single-sex classrooms have existed. The thought
is that by separating boys and girls for academic
classes, certain distractions will be eliminated,
the environment can be adapted to accommodate the
needs of boys, and teachers can teach in a style
more appropriate to the gender. This study
investigated how successful single-sex classrooms
are in promoting student achievement. By taking data
from multiple sources, the study looked at any
differences that occurred within schools containing
academic, single-sex classrooms, and coeducational
ones. Further, the study investigated whether
differences occurred between gender groups within
these schools.
falling further behind in literacy each year. Thanks
to countless hours of research, we can pinpoint some
of the causes for this decline. The major challenge
educators face is how to keep boys interested in
reading while placed in classrooms not necessarily
designed to meet their needs. One option being
explored is the use of single-sex classrooms. For
over 160 years in the United States, public school
single-sex classrooms have existed. The thought
is that by separating boys and girls for academic
classes, certain distractions will be eliminated,
the environment can be adapted to accommodate the
needs of boys, and teachers can teach in a style
more appropriate to the gender. This study
investigated how successful single-sex classrooms
are in promoting student achievement. By taking data
from multiple sources, the study looked at any
differences that occurred within schools containing
academic, single-sex classrooms, and coeducational
ones. Further, the study investigated whether
differences occurred between gender groups within
these schools.