S.C. Students, Parents and Teachers Approve Single-Gender Classes

By Fred Cunningham
Anchor
Published: July 24, 2008

Parents and teachers have joined students in their enthusiasm for single-gender classes in South Carolina according to a survey released Thursday by the State Department of Education.

Two-thirds of students, 75 percent of parents and eight in ten teachers approve of single-gender classes from the survey taken in April. South Carolina students had already shown support for single-gender classes in a poll released in January.

“This new survey adds feedback from parents and teachers, and it’s even more positive than what we’ve been hearing from students,” said State Superintendent Jim Rex in a written release. “If you want to know why more schools are offering this option, the reason is right here in these survey responses.”

Highlights of the new results included:

Three of four parents would place their children in single-gender classes for the next school year if the option were made available.

Parents of boys agree at a higher percentage than parents of girls that single-gender education has been a positive factor for their children’s education.

African-American students and parents gave even stronger endorsements than white students and parents.

Girls gave slightly stronger endorsements to the single-gender experience than boys. Roughly three quarters of female respondents said the classes had increased their confidence, independence and participation, as well as both their desire and ability to succeed.

As students move up through the grades, their preference for single-gender classrooms decreases.

The S.C. Department of Education says the survey was taken from more than 2,200 students, 181 parents and 178 teachers.