News

Survey: Students thriving

January 16, 2008

Single-gender classes are popular with students in South Carolina public schools who are enrolled in them, a survey released Tuesday by the state Department of Education shows.

Boys and girls alike say the experience makes school more interesting and inspires confidence that they can earn good grades. Minority students were among the most enthusiastic, the agency said.

The Education Department conducted the poll online in late 2007. It attracted responses from 1,706 students spread among 31 elementary, middle and high schools. An effort to gauge parents' views did not draw enough responses for a meaningful report, a department spokesman said.

The survey is part of state efforts to improve public schools, which "are looking for ways to offer more choices to parents and students," Superintendent Jim Rex said.

"For most schools, it's just a matter of learning how to create these programs and make them effective," Rex said. "The Education Department can help in showing them how to do that."

About 90 public schools offer single-gender education as an option and a Rex aide predicts that number will swell to 150 next year.

Hand Middle School began offering same-sex classes to sixth-graders this year. Principal Marisa Vickers estimated 80 students are in the "school-within-a-school" program.

Tammy Herring said enrolling her son, Ben, in those classes was "a great decision for us."

"He's not at all shy about participating in class," Herring said. "Things are more hands-on in his classes. He's made a great adjustment" to middle school.

Sharon Jenkins, who describes her daughter, Kailah, as reserved, saw single-gender classes as a way to eliminate distractions.

"She wasn't for it at first, but now she seems to enjoy it," Jenkins said. "We're very comfortable with her in these classes."

The State
By BILL ROBINSON
Reach Robinson at (803) 771-8482.