Academic Performance and Single-Sex Schooling: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in Switzerland
38 Pages Posted: 5 Oct 2011
Date Written: September 30, 2011
Abstract
We study the effects of random assignment to coeducational and single-sex classes on the academic performance of female high school students. Our estimation results show that single-sex schooling improves the performance of female students in mathematics. This positive effect increases if the single-sex class is taught by a male teacher. An accompanying survey reveals that single-sex schooling also strengthens female students’ self-confidence and renders the self-assessment of their mathematics skills more level-headed. Single-sex schooling thus has profound implications for human capital formation and the mind-set of female students.
Keywords: gender math gap, single-sex education, coeducation, natural experiment
JEL Classification: I210, J160
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation