All-girls boarding schools are single-sex residential schools where every academic, athletic, and leadership role is filled by girls. Roughly two dozen operate in the US — including Miss Porter’s, Madeira, and Emma Willard — charging $60,000–$75,000 per year in 2026. Research shows higher STEM confidence and leadership participation among graduates, though academic causation is debated.
Key facts about all-girls boarding schools
- Roughly two dozen all-girls boarding schools operate in the US, concentrated in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
- Boarding tuition runs $60,000–$75,000 per year for 2025–26.
- NCGS reports girls’ school graduates are six times more likely to consider STEM majors than coed peers.
- 100% of student leadership positions — student government, team captaincies, publications — are held by girls.
- Admission follows the standard process: SSAT, interviews, January deadlines.
What are the benefits of all-girls boarding schools?
The documented benefits of all-girls schools are participation-based: girls fill every leadership position, speak more in class without gender dynamics, and enroll in advanced STEM courses at higher rates. NCGS surveys report stronger self-confidence in math and science; critics note family selection effects explain part of the academic gap.
Which all-girls boarding schools should you look at?
Start with the five most established: Miss Porter’s School, Madeira School, Emma Willard School, Westover School, and Miss Hall’s School. Each publishes tuition, aid thresholds, and college matriculation lists — compare those directly rather than relying on rankings.
Evaluate them with the same tools as any school: acceptance rates, costs, and the readiness checklist. Considering the counterpart for boys? See all-boys boarding schools.
All-girls schools FAQ
What are the best all-girls boarding schools?
Leading US all-girls boarding schools include Miss Porter's School (Connecticut), Madeira School (Virginia), Emma Willard School (New York), Westover School (Connecticut), and Miss Hall's School (Massachusetts). All are college-preparatory, charge $60,000–$75,000 for boarding, and report strong selective-college placement.
Do girls do better in single-sex schools?
Research is contested. Studies from the National Coalition of Girls' Schools report graduates show higher confidence in math and science and greater leadership participation; independent meta-analyses find most academic differences shrink once family background is controlled. The measurable difference is participation — every leadership role is held by a girl.
How much do all-girls boarding schools cost?
All-girls boarding schools cost $60,000–$75,000 per year for boarding students in 2025–26 — in line with coed peers. Financial aid follows the same SSS/PFS process, and several girls' schools maintain strong endowment-backed aid budgets.
Are all-girls schools still relevant?
Enrollment at girls' boarding schools has held steadier than the broader single-sex sector. Advocates cite classroom participation and leadership pipelines; NCGS surveys report girls' school graduates are six times more likely to consider majoring in math, science, or technology than coed peers.
Sources
- National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS): research on single-sex education outcomes.
- Miss Porter’s School and Emma Willard School: published tuition and placement data.