<p>Much is mentioned about the top co-ed schools, the HADES, but what about the pros and cons of all girls schools?</p>
<p>There are many points to discuss other than the idea of no boys--lol.</p>
<p>I am the product of a Catholic all girls high school and found it to be the right experience for me.</p>
<p>My daughter at first was against the idea totally. I put my foot down and told her she would apply to at least one school, she selected Miss Porter's. The more she did the research she found that the idea wasn't as bad as first thought. After the visit she began to fall in love.</p>
<p>Though she applied to Exeter also, I am not sure, if it got down to the 2 of them only, which she would really choose.</p>
<p>We are very supportive of single-gender education. There are many studies that show the benefits to both genders.<br>
The downside I see for us is athletics. Most of the girls school have horse and/or dance programs and as a result, the athletics is not as strong.<br>
I always think it is too bad when a child will not even LOOK at a single-gender school, when they do most are very surprised.</p>
<p>all boy schools are barely ever heard of on here. I don’t think I even know one. Miss Porter’s is scattered on this board along with a few others.</p>
<p>DD has thrived as a day student at an all-girls boarding school. Her confidence in math and science soared, her leadership skills are way up. We balance it with co-ed summer experiences. Of course, she won’t even consider an all-women’s college. “Been there, done that”</p>
<p>I wish the so called “top tier” schools offered stabling and riding…oh well. For this horsey family academics still take priority over riding but only just (kidding). That said, I think all girls schools have a lot of advantages, aside from equestrian sports. Ditto for all boys schools.</p>
<p>I think all girls’ schools are a great idea. My D’s first choice is an all girls’ middle school, the only one in our area. At first, it was her 2nd choice based on the information I gave her and the websites she visited. Then, as she started getting more information and doing her visits, it moved to number 3 (before visiting this particular school but after visiting two of the others) and then number 1 (after visiting)! </p>
<p>She really felt comfortable on campus, felt the girls were really nice and accepting, and thought the classes were taught differently than at the other schools. She said even math seemed fun and that is her least favorite subject!</p>
<p>I have already told her that there are also all girls’ high schools, and she just rolls her eyes at me…LOL.</p>
<p>My d liked Miss Porter’s. We visited twice, attended a class and spoke with girls on the campus and left very impressed with the school. The only downside for her was the number of course offerings (I think they have a semester system) and a specific language she wanted to study. I think single gender education has its benefits as mentioned and allows the girls to mature without the same type of dating pressure that you find at co-ed schools.</p>
<p>emdee, the course offering was slim an that was a downer,we also visited a class and had a conference with the the women in charge of the dance program</p>
<p>How about the theatre programs at all girls schools? Theatre productions are supposed to have both men and women in order to effectively portray real life. I know that Hockaday school in Texas cooperates with its brother school St. Marks to produce plays, but I’m not sure about other girls schools.</p>
<p>At my old all girls school in the younger years plays the taller, skinner <em>cough</em> underdeveloped girls (ie me /sigh/) had to play boys. When we got into about 10th grade the big school play of the year was with our brother school.</p>
<p>The Boston area all girl schools pair up with a boys school like Belmont Hill or Roxbury Latin for theater productions, so some girls may discover a previously unrecognized passion for the theater…</p>
<p>@MSHopeful: I think all girls is especially nice for middle school. It’s an age with a lot of maturing going on, and a great time to lock in confidence.</p>
<p>Lemonade ~ I agree, I think middle school is the perfect time for all girls education. I think it will definitely give my daughter not only a great education, but the skills and confidence she needs when she moves on to high school, college and beyond.</p>
<p>I did find this school has less course offerings than some of the others (she applied to five total through ABC). It doesn’t have French, which she REALLY wanted to take, and it has less electives. But I think the benefits outweigh the negatives. And I think she would fit in perfectly. While I like some of the more “traditional” schools as well, and I think eventually my D would fit in pretty much anywhere, I just got a great “vibe” from this school.</p>
<p>My daughter is a Porter’s graduate. She did theater every year as a tech - 12 plays in the 4 years she was there. I think the theater program is amazing. No, you will not have the depth and breadth that you find in larger coed public or private schools but you will still have a first class experience in the arts. Every year Porter’s girls are accepted into well known performing arts colleges.
Same for sports - you may not have every sport imaginable but the ones you have are very strong. Porter’s basketball team is in plays off right now. The swimming team is tops and the baseball team has done very well. A small number of girls are riders. There is a strong dance program.
And, the same for courses - not the huge variety of AP’s but certainly a good mix.
My daughter found the close community to be supportive, caring, and energetic. She is very glad she chose Porter’s.</p>
<p>I hope to get into Chatham this year. I didn’t even look at co-ed schools. The school i attend now is a co-ed school and there is a different feeling in an all girl’s school. I beleive it’s more relaxed, supportive and open.</p>
<p>omg. i go to girls school and hate it!!! i would never voluntarily go to another. you would never know what its like until u’ve been there for a few years. I also cant think of more than 2 people in my grade that like the all girls part. same with the other all girls schools around us. in my area there are 7. and 3 boys schools. boys, ive found, like single-sex more than girls. Some people like it, but it is wayyy not for me.</p>
<p>Good luck innerstar2. One of the science teachers at Chatham taught physics at Miss Porter’s. He and his wife decided to move to be neared to their family and for warmer weather for golf! It was a real loss when he left Porter’s.</p>