Why Our Mission as an All-Girls School Matters More than Ever

By Dr. Martin Kilbridge

Recently, a leader of a coeducational school remarked “the world is coed,” and suggested single-gender schools are limited in what they can provide. His comments raise an important question: what makes Holy Names so distinctive and vital today as an all-girls school?

At Academy of the Holy Names, we share the same goal as every educational institution: to prepare young people to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Where we differ is in our belief of how to best make that happen for young women.

A single-gender education is not about separation from the world — it’s about formation for it. In an all-girls environment, students grow in confidence, voice, and leadership. Every student role model they see is a young woman. Every student leadership position is held by a young woman. Every classroom invites them to speak, question, and take risks without the weight of social dynamics or gender expectation.

This is not limiting; it’s liberating.

Far from being insulated, our students engage deeply with real issues — gender, equity, collaboration, leadership, and belonging — from a position of strength and awareness. They leave here ready to lead in coed colleges, workplaces, and communities because they have first learned what it means to lead authentically, without apology, as women.

Research consistently affirms what we see every day: graduates of girls’ schools report higher confidence, greater participation in STEM, stronger leadership skills, and a greater sense of purpose and belonging. In short, they are not just prepared for the coed world — they help shape it.

At a time when gender dynamics are complex and evolving, the mission of an all-girls education remains both relevant and revolutionary. We believe — and see in our graduates — that empowering young women to know who they are and what they can do is one of the most effective ways to prepare them for the world they will lead.

If you know someone who would benefit from our all-girls education, urge them to schedule a tour and shadow day — to witness for themselves the vitality and power of a Holy Names education.