Lauralton Hall President Answers the Question: Why an All Girls School?

Editor's note: This article is part of a series, written by Dr. Toni Iadarola, President of Lauralton Hall. You can read the Lauralton Hall blog here. 

Why Would Anyone Want to go to an All Girls School?

Why indeed! 

While many Connecticut parents search for a school that can give their high-schooler an edge, parents of daughters may find a girls-only environment is her best advantage.By subtracting boys, an all-girls' education adds opportunities. A girl occupies every position from student government, to sports teams, to the school play. As one of the first all-girl high schools in Connecticut, Lauralton Hall has empowered young women for over 111 years.

In a single-sex school, a girl is free to explore new things and take on new roles without worrying about how her male counterparts might perceive her.  Girls in their high school years should be allowed to find out what makes them unique, what kinds of learning best challenges them, and what fun activities spark their curiosity about life.

A 2013 study by the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools called “Steeped in Learning: The Student Experience at All-Girls Schools” found the following benefits:

• Higher aspirations and greater motivation.
  Virtually all students at all-girls’ schools expect to earn a four-year degree and more than two-thirds expect to earn a graduate or professional degree.
• Challenged to achieve more.
  Nearly 80.0% of girls’ school students report most of their classes challenge them to achieve their full academic potential. This is compared to 44.3% of girls at coed public schools.
• More actively engaged in the learning process.
  95% of girls’ school students report more engagement with course-related speaking and writing vs. 80.4% of their female peers at coed schools.
• Participate in activities that prepare them for the world outside of school.
  Girls’ schools encourage students to link concepts across problem domains. Over 80% of students at girls’ schools report having connected ideas from one area to another compared to 61.2% of girls at coed public schools.
• More self confident about expressing their ideas.
  An atmosphere of respect provides girls’ schools students the opportunity to share their views openly and learn from peers.
• Higher levels of support from their classmates, teachers and school personnel
  In an all-girls' atmosphere, classroom dynamics shift. Alumnae often report that they could not "hide" in their school. Without the distraction of boys, girls can have a greater ability to focus on their work—and teachers can demand that such work meet the highest standards.

Lauralton Hall will hold an Entrance Exam for 8th graders on Saturday, October 15 or October 22, 2016 at 8:00 a.m.