Chance Seales sits down with Ben Smith, Head of Research at the American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM), to explore whether single-sex schools benefit American boys. They dig into the data from AIBM’s 2025 report and discuss what’s working in single-sex public schools, what information is missing, and what it actually means for your sons. Underlying research conducted by Nina Hankins.

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Chapters00:00 Current Trends in All-Boys Education02:26 The Impact of All-Boys Schools on Educational Outcomes05:28 Personal Experiences in All-Male Environments08:31 The Role of Self-Selection in Education11:21 Evaluating Evidence and Outcomes of All-Boys Schools13:37 The Impact of Single-Sex Education on Academic Outcomes19:23 Building Relationships and Character Development in Boys' Education24:48 The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning29:27 International Insights on Single-Sex Education34:39 Generalizability of Research Findings38:21 The Role of Male Teachers in Education40:51 Individual Perspectives on All-Boys Schools

The Promise of All-Boys Schools

• Schools with all-boys models have shown lower delinquency, higher engagement, and higher teacher expectations internationally

• Proponents say teachers develop deeper relationships with students and tailor instruction to developmental needs

• Most accessible in urban charter systems serving majority-minority and low-income communities

The Legal & Policy Landscape

• Single-sex public schools became possible after 2001’s No Child Left Behind Act and 2006 Title IX adjustments

• As of 2022, only 45 public all-boys schools exist in America (down from 58 in 2016)

• Must be voluntary with co-ed alternatives available

The Research Gaps

• Surprisingly little U.S.-based research exists on these schools’ long-term impacts

• Academic benefits documented are modest, and generalizability to suburban/rural contexts remains unclear

• Missing data on soft skills development and sustained outcomes — key factors in adulthood flourishing

Male Teachers Matter

• • Presence of male teachers, especially black male teachers, improves outcomes for black boys
  • Evidence shows potential to close reading gaps and improve graduation rates
• • Male teachers often become mentors and role models through coaching relationships, holding boys to higher expectations

• Ben Smith bio

• Head of Research at the American Institute for Boys and Men

• Naval Academy grad and former submarine officer

• Brings both research expertise and personal experience with all-male environments

Ben’s recommendation: There’s no strong policy case for a wholesale shift to single-sex schools, but individual families should feel empowered to explore all-boys options if available—particularly for middle and high school. One thing is clear: more research would be helpful.

Would you enroll your son in an all-boys school? I’d love to hear your thoughts.