Why
Do We Say Co-Ed/Gender Inclusive is Best for Everyone?
At The York School, we believe that a strong sense of belonging is essential to both learning and personal growth
Here's what York girls have to say:
I love going to a gender inclusive school because it provides a safe environment for everyone to express themselves freely without judgement There is a strong sense of community at our school, because everyone is welcome and belongs The York School reflects our world today, and educates us on how we can be inclusive of all genders in school, and beyond
-Elizabeth K ‘26
It cultivates a stronger sense of community and helps us learn to appreciate people for their authentic selves As well, it creates space for acceptance and allows one to be whoever they are, free of any criticism or judgement
-Daisy M ‘27
“ “ “ “ “
I’ve always wanted to be in a school where there are girls and boys because I can hang out with my twin brother when I want to I really like to play basketball, but not a lot of girls in my grade play basketball, because there are usually boys playing basketball at recess, I can join and play whenever I want
-Rose M ‘32
“
It makes a more welcoming community There’s support and acknowledgement for everyone, regardless of their gender Coming from a single sex school, I found it was a better reflection of real life and I found that the community was more inclusive There are other aspects of you apart from your gender that are welcome and acknowledged You can be your authentic self
-Muireann S ‘25
It feels more realistic for what the world looks like and it’s fun to work with different people When you work with different people, you develop new relationships and skills Different people will teach you different things
-Joanna P ‘30
I like going to a co-ed school because the world isn’t all boys or all girls it’s mixed gender. So if you associate with a different gender then you will know what comes later in life I don’t have only girl friends About a third of my friends are actually boys If you only meet girls, you won’t meet a wide array of people With boys and girls, it’s a more inclusive environment
-Bridget S ‘32
Why Do We Say Co-Ed/Gender Inclusive is Best for
Everyone?
At The York School, we believe that a strong sense of belonging is essential to both learning and personal growth
Here's what York boys have to say:
“
I believe that gender inclusive schools enable students to feel safe and truly at home They invoke a sense of self-pride and confidence in students that extends to all aspects of our lives They empower us to explore the type of people we are, and wish to become; encouraging us to be independent thinkers with our own distinct personalities Gender inclusive schools provide me with the opportunity to find value in learning about the diverse experiences and backgrounds of the members of our school community Most importantly, they encourage me, to be me
-Zach W ‘26
It's nice to get along with people who are girls and boys Some of my friends are girls and if I went to an all boys school, I wouldn’t know those people If I went to an all boys school, maybe I would have a different perspective on being friends with girls
In the world we see all types of people so when we were choosing a school, my family decided we wanted me to be exposed to a community that had different people and to grow and learn from them
-Ryan S ‘29
In the future you're obviously going to see boys and girls, transgender people, people of all types and if you are only used to seeing only boys or only girls you won't be comfortable interacting with them If you’re at an all boys school or all girls school you might not meet as many people with a variety of interests as you would if you go to a mixed gender school
-Charlie K ‘32
“
“ “ “ “
-Phillip H ‘32 “
Gender inclusive schools are important because they mirror the social relationships that students will face in the real world They are valuable as they foster equality and diversity, the foundations of the caring and safe environment we strive for
-Robbie K ‘26
There’s more possibilities to meet lots of people and it makes it easier to work with others because you feel comfortable given the many opportunities we have to build lots of relationships
-Ben M ‘30
There is more balance in the classroom and it feels more welcoming You’re not scared to participate and you feel confident to always give it your all
-Jacob I ‘27
GENDER INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
Why Do We Say Co-Ed/Gender Inclusive is Best for Everyone?
At The York School, we believe that a strong sense of belonging is essential to both learning and personal growth. As a gender-inclusive school since our founding in 1965, we’ve seen firsthand how an environment that embraces all students, regardless of gender, fosters deeper connections, greater empathy, and a stronger community. Our approach aligns with the American Psychological Association’s stance that coeducational schooling not only supports academic success, but also promotes essential social skills and attitudes that students carry with them throughout their lives.¹
That is why many of the world’s leading independent schools began moving away from single-sex education to coeducation beginning in the 1960s.²
Research studies have demonstrated that classrooms segregated by gender limit children’s opportunities to develop a broader range of behaviours and attitudes - behaviours and attitudes that are critical to lifelong learning and social adjustment. And we know that single-sex education doesn’t necessarily lead to better academic outcomes, and this too is backed up by research. ³
Studies show that students in coeducational environments, like ours, develop a broader range of skills, including emotional intelligence and adaptability. At The York School, we take pride in our inclusive approach, which allows students to grow into well-rounded individuals, prepared for both academic success and the challenges of an ever-evolving world.
Everyday in our corridors and classrooms, across all grades and divisions, we see the proof of these studies playing out in real time before our eyes.
“There is a mountain of research... showing that segregation by race or gender feeds stereotypes... The adult world is an integrated world... The best thing we can do is provide that environment for children in school as we prepare them for adulthood.”
Professor Janet Hyde, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison
We see groups of friends - boys and girls together - laughing over shared jokes, climbing, jumping and playing at Junior School recess, working on projects and studying together. We see cafeteria tables where everybody is welcome. We see science partners and project groups that are varied and mixed. We see friendship circles that are large, overlapping, flexible, and open.
¹Pahlke, E., Shibley Hyde, J., Allison, Carlie M., ‘The Effects of Single-Sex Compared with Coeducational Schooling on Students’ Performance and Attitudes: A Meta-Analysis’, Psychological Bulletin (2014), Vol. 140, No. 4, 1042-1072; Halpern, D.F., Eliot, L., Bigler, R.S., Fabes, R.A., Hanish, L.D., Hyde, J., Liben, L.S., Martin, C.L., ‘The Pseudoscience of Single-Sex Schooling’, Science (2011), Vol. 333 (6050), 1706-1707.
²Andover in 1973; Boston Latin in 1972; Choate Rosemary in 1974; Deerfield Academy in 1989; Harvard Westlake in 1991; Horace Mann in 1968, Hotchkiss in 1974; Phillips Exeter in 1970; The Perse School (2012); Westminster School in 1973; Winchester College (UK) in 2022;
³Dabrowski, A., Donoghue, G., ‘Single-sex schools: we wouldn’t segregate kids by race, so why do we still do it by gender?’, The Conversation, July 14, 2015; Dabrowski, A., ‘Single-sex schooling relies on myths of higher achievement’, The Conversation, March 24, 2014.
By learning and working together in supervised, purposeful environments, our students develop the tools and mindset required for successful relationship-building at university and in the workplace.
Canadian students have spoken and this is what they say:4
They report nearly the same level of academic confidence regardless of whether their school is gender inclusive or single-sex.
84% of students attending independent gender inclusive schools feel confident expressing their views in the presence of students of another gender – that percentage drops significantly for students in single-sex schools.
Students at gender inclusive schools report making friends easily with students of any gender.
There is no difference between gender inclusive schools and single-sex schools when it comes to students feeling confident to participate in class discussions, engage deeply in learning, and even in how they perceive their own and others’ math and science abilities.
88% of students at independent, co-ed schools feel that their school provides a safe environment for all students.
Moreover, in a massive meta-analysis of single sex and coeducational schooling that included nearly 200 studies conducted in more than 20 countries over more than fifty years, researchers found:
No evidence that single-sex schooling improves girls’ performance in STEM subjects;
No evidence that single-sex schooling produces better academic outcomes when compared to coeducational schooling.
No evidence that boys do better verbally in single-sex learning environments;
No evidence that girls develop a better self-concept in single-sex classrooms;
And overall scant evidence that single-sex classrooms offer any educational or social benefits beyond what is offered in coeducational classrooms.
Joining The York School means becoming part of a community where your child’s wellbeing is nurtured every day. Here, students aren’t just learning subjects — they’re learning how to care for themselves and others, how to collaborate, and how to lead with confidence and compassion. We invite you to be part of this vibrant, inclusive, and supportive community that truly values the success and happiness of every student.
⁴Perceptions and Attitudes of Students Toward their Academic and Social Experiences in Canadian High Schools (2006). A survey of 17,798 students and recent graduates from all types of Canadian high schools (independent, public, gender inclusive, and single sex). Conducted by The Strategic Counsel, 2006.