The Effects of Single-Sex Education on Short and Long Term Extracurricular Participation [US] [2012]

 

The Effects of Single-Sex Education on Short and Long Term Extracurricular Participation

By: Grace A. Foster

April, 2012


Abstract

A provision in “No Child Left Behind” that allows for single-sex education in public schools has led to increased interest in the potential benefits of single-sex schooling. Until now, all research on single-sex education has focused on direct academic outcomes. This research instead examines the benefits of single-sex education on social capital outcomes using data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 to look at the effect of single-sex education on a student’s decision to participate in extracurricular activities. It is predicted that because of a reduction in adolescent subculture, students in single-sex schools will have increased participation in extracurricular activities. Overall, after controlling for selection bias, the results suggest that students at single-sex schools are more likely to participate in extracurricular activities in high school and college, implying the benefits of single-sex schooling extend beyond an individual’s educational experience.

 

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