The Grand River Academy Analyzes the Growing Gender Gap in Education

July 11, 2014 - The Grand River Academy, a private boarding school for boys in Ohio, has recently released an infographic highlighting their research on the growing gender gap in education, a problem that has been noted in our country since the mid-90s. Often times, the 24/7 academic environment and setting of male boarding schools puts children in the best position to succeed in and out of the classroom.

Since 1994, we have started to see a trend of college matriculation differences among the sexes. Since then, we have continually seen this difference widen, as female high school graduates were moving on to higher education more often than their male counterparts. If this trend continues, males who once made up 61 percent of total college graduates will drop to a low of 39 percent by 2019. Overall, the male to female ratio of colleges and universities throughout the country stands at 1.4 women for every 1 male.

One of the principle reasons behind this trend may be related to females outperforming their male peers before even reaching high school. Forty-eight percent of 8th grade girls receive a mix of A and B grades in their classes, while only 31 percent of boys reach the same level of academic success. This trend continues well into high school and beyond, as female students' GPAs have averaged out higher than those of males, while 70 percent of valedictorians are female.

Another possible reason for the growing gap may be discovered within learning disabilities. Two-thirds of all students identified with a learning disability are male. Additionally, 45 percent of students with a learning disability fall a few grades behind their peers, achieving lower grades and higher rates of course failure.

In addition, male students have been found to be leading the way in disciplinary actions, suspensions and expulsions. According to the U.S. department of education, 71 percent of all school suspensions are given to male students.

To further explore the infographic and learn more about the growing gender gap in education, visit Grand River Academy's blog at www.grandriver.org/school-life/blog/the-growing-gender-gap-in-education.

The Grand River Academy is a private boy's boarding school located just outside Cleveland, Ohio. The school holds a rich history of helping boys unlock their full academic potential and reinvent themselves, with a highly educated staff and a 360-degree approach to academia and educational learning. Discover the difference the Grand River Academy can offer your son by visiting www.grandriver.org/admission/the-gra-difference.