Political participation and social engagement at girls’ and coeducational high schools: a comparative study

Using multi-level modeling and lenses of gender socialization and gendered organizations, we investigated the role of U.S. girls’ high schools in adolescent political participation and social engagement, characterized by voting interest, volunteerism, and interactions with diverse communities among other variables, with a focus on the role of all girls’ schooling. Results demonstrate benefits for graduates of girls’ schools in community-orientation, civic engagement, social agency, and political involvement compared to similar peers in coeducational environments. The conclusions provide broader insight for all types of schooling into the ways that they can focus on increasing engagement for their students. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.