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History of Single-Sex Education

By amberb
  • Jan 1, 1450

    UK: In the 1400's, there was expansion in education through the introduction of first grammar schools for boys.

  • Jan 1, 1534

    UK: The Act of Supremacy made the king the head of the Church of England, which meant he was also in charge of education.

    He made a small number of cathedral schools change to allow free education. This still only benefitted children, boys especially, in the upper classes
  • Period: to

    UK: In the 1700's, Stagecoaches and roads were developed, which allowed boys who lived in the country to attend boarding schools. Again, it was mostly the middle and upper classes that benefitted.

  • Period: to

    Early 1800's: Several seminaries are opened for girls, which provided them with a liberal art’s education that is equivalent to a high school education. Many of these schools, including Emma Willard (established in 1821), modeled their curriculum after th

  • Period: to

    UK: In the 1950's, Women were questioning the social constructions in women’s education and, as a result, single-sex organization was adopted because it mirrored the boys’ education.

  • UK: Cheltenham Ladies College was the first public school available to girls. There were also “girls’ day schools” which were owned by shareholders.

  • Period: to

    In the late 1800's: Co-education is basically universal in American primary and secondary schools.

  • UK: The Education Act created elementary schools nationally. Due to the financial implications of this, schools were beginning to become co-educational. However, there were separate entrances and classes for boys and girls.

  • Soviet Union: The Soviet Union mandated co-education.

  • UK: Less than one-quarter of all schools are single-sex.

  • Period: to

    In the late 1980's: Educational leaders started single-sex classes to help with inner-city problems. This included an elementary school in Rochester, NY. Parents had the choice to enroll their children in single-sex classes at any grade level.

  • In Detroit, MI officials attempted to open three schools for African-American boys, but it was decided to be against Title IX.

  • In Ventura, CA school officials tried using single-sex classes, but faced too many legal challenges to continue.

  • In Irvington, NJ a school held single-sex classes but was forced to cancel them due to the amount of opposition.

  • More single-sex schools began opening.

  • Most schools internationally are co-educational.

  • An amendment to No Child Left Behind (2001), allowed school districts to be more flexible to implement single-sex classes in schools.

  • Around 80 single-sex schools were open throughout the United States.

    Around 80 single-sex schools were open throughout the United States.