About Us
Why A School for Girls?
The answer to that question lies in the research—the research on the benefits of an all-girls education and the adolescent experience of girls—and in the words and experiences of the girls who attend or have attended a girls' school and their teachers and parents.
Here we provide for you the opportunity to begin exploring why you might choose a girls' school. And, we hope you won't stop there. Just as we encourage our girls to be curious and to engage in the process of discovery, we encourage and invite you to visit our campus and experience for yourself a day in a girls' school. After all, to truly know the power of a girls' school, you must see it in action.
To schedule a visit, please contact our Admission Office at Admission@GPS.edu or 423.634.7644.
It will be our pleasure to introduce you to Girls Preparatory School and to the girls of GPS.
Some of our recent alumnae explain the impact an all-girls school had on their growth and development.
Where Girls Feel Free
In a world that too often places pressure and expectations on girls to look, to feel, or to be a certain way, a girls' school allows them to be free. Countering cultural limitations and stereotypes, girls feel free to be themselves and free to decide for themselves who they are, who they want to be, and what they want to do.
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Experts in the area of gender differences note that single-sex settings may be especially useful in helping girls at ease in subjects that are traditionally dominated by boys, such as engineering and computer science. Dr. Lisa Damour, The Truth About Gender Differences -
That’s one of the things that makes a girls’ school great—I feel like you’re more free to be yourself. GPS Student -
Research evidence does suggest that single-sex education may help to promote non-traditional interests. Studies have found that girls’ schools counter traditional sex-typing in the subjects students choose to pursue. Dr. Lisa Damour, The Truth About Gender Differences -
I do not feel pressured to conform to any stereotypes of what I should be or what I should do. I am who I am. I feel like GPS really promotes that—in me and in every girl. We don’t have to hide who we are to be something we’re supposed to be. GPS student. -
Studies have found that women are more likely to underperform on math tests when testing alongside men: as the number of men in the room increased, so did the female underperformance. Dr. Lisa Damour, Shielding Girls from Stereotype Threat -
The girl as an individual is valued. You’re not told that you have to be an athlete, have to be just an academic scholar, or just someone who likes to design software. You can be all of those things. I think as you get older, you realize how incredible that is. GPS student
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Where Girls are Supported and Support Others
Given the importance of relationships and connection to girls, especially during the adolescent years, a girls' school promotes an environment of support and respect, and lifelong friendships are formed.
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93% of girls’ school grads are very or extremely satisfied with their school’s ability to provide individualized attention, and 80% strongly feel encouraged to develop their own interests. The Girls’ Experience: A Survey of Young Alumnae of Single-Sex Schools -
More than anything, the thing I carry with me that most is the sisterhood, the friendships. In these days, the people I look to the most are the friends I made at GPS. GPS alum -
We think it’s better to celebrate each other than to bring each other down. What are you getting out of that? Nothing. GPS student -
Despite all of our differences and that we might have had different background, interests, and life experiences, we all had this sense of camaraderie. GPS alum
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Where Girls Believe in Themselves
As girls move through the developmental stage of adolescence—when young girls transform into young women—a girls' school helps to nurture their self-confidence by continuously working to help them become their best, most fully-realized selves.
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Everyone’s encouraging you. If I ever try something new, I will have six or seven girls that will come up to me and tell me, ‘You got this. Just go for it.’ That gives me more confidence. GPS student -
If you’re confident then you have your own expectations before you try to meet everyone else’s expectations. GPS dad -
All-girls settings seem to provide girls a certain comfort level that helps them develop greater self-confidence and broader interests, especially as they approach adolescence. Dr. Rosemary C. Salomone, Same, Different, Equal: Rethinking Single-Sex Schooling -
I do feel like I can do anything…because I’ve been told I can do anything. GPS student -
She loves to sing. I didn’t know if she would ever do that on stage. She’s gotten the courage to sing in a choir and on her own. That’s wonderful. GPS mom
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Where Girls Participate and Lead
In a girls' school, girls are more likely to engage, join in, step forward, and lead—in academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, and more.
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When girls go to single-sex schools, they stoop being the audience and become the players. Drs. Myra and David Sadker (American University) -
93% of girls’ school grads say they were offered greater leadership opportunities than peers at coed schools and 80% have held leadership positions since graduating from high school. The Girls’ School Experience: A Survey of Young Alumnae of Single-Sex Schools -
Females do especially better academically in single-sex schools across a variety of cultures. Single-sex schools help improve student achievement. Dr. Cornielium Riordan, Girls and Boys in School: Together or Separate?
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