The Effect of Single-Gender Education on the Achievement of Sixth Grade Mathematics Students


Book Description

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact on students' academic achievement when served with a single-gender instructional model. Sixth grade students enrolled in single-gender classes were compared to heterogeneous classes utilizing the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). MAP data from the fall and spring administrations were evaluated to determine academic growth. In the analysis of growth in academic achievement between groups based upon MAP scores, there was no significant difference found between academic growth and gender. While there was group variability that may have impacted achievement scores, overall growth of MAP scores and the amount of achievement was not significant at the .05 level. With all student groups achieving gains, educational setting and academic growth may be simply a matter of individual learning style and preference. Future studies should focus on longitudinal patterns of student growth, corroboration of multiple sources of data, such as student grades and additional test scores, and student perspectives of single-gender classes.




The Impact of Publicy-funded Single-gender Learning Environments on Sixth Grade Male Academic Performance


Book Description

This study compares two educational models to investigate whether differences exist in academic achievement among boys in single- gender model and those in a traditional co-gender model. Specifically, the study analyzed archival data from the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness to ascertain the efficacy of single-sex education for middle school boys. A quantitative comparative research design was chosen to compare the student achievement outcomes between two educational models to determine if the single-gender model offers advantages over the traditional co-educational model. The study utilized numerical datasets archival data consisting of the STAAR reading and STAAR math scores of student samples at two different school models: one sample comprised of minority males attending a single-sex publicly-funded middle school and another sample comprised of minority males attending a traditional co- gender publicly-funded middle schools. The study results, affirm that students attending a single-sex school fared better academically than their peers educated in co-gender learning environments, are consistent with the research of Brown (2008), which evaluated the academic outcomes of a specific group of students after they were separated into single-sex classes, although in the same school, and compared their academic performance with their peers that remained in co- gender classes. The result: students in the single-sex classes excelled over their peers that remained in the co-gender classes, even to the extent that students who had been academically unsuccessful in the past became very successful in the single-sex environment and test stores showed drastic improvement. This research study is essential because it examines a relatively new academic model in public education. It is widely held that separating boys from girls into single-sex learning environments is the best way to meet the unique academic needs and improve the educational outcomes of both groups. A focus on the impact of publicly funded single- sex learning environments is especially important considering that the number of single- sex public schools is on the rise in the United States and that they are most often developed as a means to target and address the low academic performance of minority males.







The Effect of Multiple Years of Single-gender Education on Middle School Students' Achievement in Reading and Math


Book Description

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of multiple years of single-gender education on the reading and math achievement test scores of low, average, and high-ability male and female middle-school students attending a Christian academy in North Carolina. In short, this study found that single-gender education did not improve NCE (Normal Curve Equivalent) reading or mathematics scores at WCA (Wilson Christian Academy, Wilson, North Carolina). - Statement of the problem, Summary and recommendations.




An Investigation of the Effect of Single-gendered Instruction on Achievement in Math and English in an Urban High School


Book Description

Since the inception of the No Child Left Behind Act, many initiatives have been implemented to increase academic achievement. Single-gender education is an initiative that public schools have adopted with the hope of seeing boys and girls achieve significant gains in their core classes. This study explored the achievement levels of 9 th grade girls and boys in their English I and algebra I classes. After a year of learning in single-gender classes, the students' End of Course scores were compared to the previous cohort of students who were taught in a traditional co-educational format by using an independent t-test. Scores were inputted in SPSS and analyzed. Eight research questions were formed to discover if significant differences from the co-educational year to the single-gender year existed. Results showed that there was a significant difference between the achievement of students who took single-gender English I classes compared to students who took co-educational English I classes, with single-gender English classes outperforming co-educational English classes. Results also showed that there was a significant difference between the achievement of students who took single-gender algebra I classes and students who took co-educational algebra I classes, with co-educational algebra I classes outperforming single-gender algebra I classes. Qualitative research is needed in the future to determine if teacher/ student training and perceptions of single-gender education impacted the data.







The Effects of Single Gender Education on Sixth Through Eighth Grade Female Student Science Achievement


Book Description

Currently, students in the United States are educated in either single or mixed gender learning environments. An achievement gap between male and female students in the area of science indicates a need for instructional strategies and environments that will address these learning needs. Single gender classrooms are one possible solution as males and females have gender differences that may contribute to the way they learn. This quantitative, causal comparative study compared the differences in the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards science achievement scores of middle school females in single and mixed gender environments in a state in the Southeastern United States. Independent samples t tests, Chi-Square Tests, and two-way ANOVA analyses determined if group differences in science achievement existed between sixth through eighth grade female students in single and mixed gender classrooms. Results of the study revealed there was no significant difference in achievement scores between the two groups. The research findings provide the stakeholders with information that can potentially influence the implementation of single gender programs to improve the achievement of female students in middle grades science.







Single-sex Education


Book Description

The purpose of this study was to provide insight on whether providing a single sex educational environment to inner-city African-American students helped to improve students' achievement and school engagement. A purposive sample of all students in grades three through six enrolled in single sex classrooms in a public school in a large urban city was included in this research. Comparison groups were selected from a neighboring public schools, ensuring the most consistency across demographic variables. Students completed two surveys: the School Engagement Survey (Fitt & DuCette, 2001) and the Estes Attitude Scale - Revised (Estes, Estes, Richards & Roetiger, 1981). Also, achievement data for these students were collected via a state sponsored school district data warehousing system. Students were also asked to participate in same sex, same grade focus groups. Ten teachers of these students were asked to participate in individual interviews. Results indicated that students in single-sex classes had statistically higher means than students in coeducational settings on the School Engagement Survey sections of Positive Self Perception, Positive Teacher Belief, and Positive School Environment. Also, students in coeducational settings had statistically higher means on the Estes Attitudes Scales for the subject of mathematics. Students who were enrolled in single-sex classes for more than one year had higher scores on standardized mathematics tests. Although single-sex and coeducational students start at approximately the same level for both reading and math, the single-sex students consistently score higher than their coeducational counterparts. Additionally, the results showed no significant gender differences on any of the measures of attitudes or achievement. Teachers did not drastically change their instructional approach after being assigned to a single-sex classroom but they did change their approach to behavior management. Teachers do not participate in quality, ongoing professional development to support their practice as teachers of a single-sex class. Both boys and girls seem to enjoy the attention they receive in single-sex classes. Boys and girls also expressed a feeling of comfort in the single-sex setting. Boys and girls alike expressed enjoyment of all school subjects including mathematics and science. Girls and younger boys perceived themselves as being much more academically successful in the single-sex classroom. Boys in grades five and six perceived themselves as failing academically and they blame the bad behavior exhibited in their all boys' classes.




Single-sex Education


Book Description

The purpose of this study was to provide insight on whether providing a single sex educational environment to inner-city African-American students helped to improve students' achievement and school engagement. A purposive sample of all students in grades three through six enrolled in single sex classrooms in a public school in a large urban city was included in this research. Comparison groups were selected from a neighboring public schools, ensuring the most consistency across demographic variables. Students completed two surveys: the School Engagement Survey (Fitt & DuCette, 2001) and the Estes Attitude Scale - Revised (Estes, Estes, Richards & Roetiger, 1981). Also, achievement data for these students were collected via a state sponsored school district data warehousing system. Students were also asked to participate in same sex, same grade focus groups. Ten teachers of these students were asked to participate in individual interviews. Results indicated that students in single-sex classes had statistically higher means than students in coeducational settings on the School Engagement Survey sections of Positive Self Perception, Positive Teacher Belief, and Positive School Environment. Also, students in coeducational settings had statistically higher means on the Estes Attitudes Scales for the subject of mathematics. Students who were enrolled in single-sex classes for more than one year had higher scores on standardized mathematics tests. Although single-sex and coeducational students start at approximately the same level for both reading and math, the single-sex students consistently score higher than their coeducational counterparts. Additionally, the results showed no significant gender differences on any of the measures of attitudes or achievement. Teachers did not drastically change their instructional approach after being assigned to a single-sex classroom but they did change their approach to behavior management. Teachers do not participate in quality, ongoing professional development to support their practice as teachers of a single-sex class. Both boys and girls seem to enjoy the attention they receive in single-sex classes. Boys and girls also expressed a feeling of comfort in the single-sex setting. Boys and girls alike expressed enjoyment of all school subjects including mathematics and science. Girls and younger boys perceived themselves as being much more academically successful in the single-sex classroom. Boys in grades five and six perceived themselves as failing academically and they blame the bad behavior exhibited in their all boys' classes.