Academic performance and single-sex schooling: Evidence from a natural experiment in Switzerland

We study the effects of random assignment to coeducational and single-sex classes on the academic performance of female high school students who all face the same curriculum. The students' academic performance is observed over a time period of up to four years. Our estimation results show that single-sex schooling improves the performance of female students in mathematics. This positive effect is particularly large for female students with high ex-ante ability. An accompanying survey reveals that single-sex schooling also strengthens female students' self-confidence and renders the self-assessment of their mathematics skills more level-headed.