It’s a question that Lynne Macziewski is frequently asked: “Why is a single-sex education still relevant in the year 2025?” As the Head of School of The Baldwin School, she has a view of the relevance daily. “Obviously, the world is not a single-sex institution,” says Macziewski. “At Baldwin, we give our girls the skills, the knowledge, and the ability to believe in themselves, to develop confidence, to know that they can do anything.”

It’s the unwavering confidence that girls from single-sex institutions like Baldwin have that enables them to move into co-ed environments without focusing on the difference between boys and girls. “Our students see themselves as equals when they are around boys—they see no difference,” says Macziewski. “And that in itself is the power of an all-girls education.”

A Legacy of Educational Excellence Since 1888

According to Macziewski, the relevance of single-sex education dates back to the mission of the school’s founder, Florence Baldwin. The Baldwin School was founded in 1888 with the goal of “developing talented girls into confident women with vision, global understanding, and the competency to make significant and enduring contributions to the world.”

“The Baldwins School was founded at a time when girls did not have access to the same level of education as boys did,” says Macziewski. Baldwin wanted to ensure that girls had access to that same education. “So while obviously education looks a lot different than it did in 1888, thank goodness, we continue to be proud of the fact that we are on the forefront of all-girls education and what it means to be a learner both as a girl and within an all-girls school,” continues Macziewski. “We pride ourselves on being a school for girls, not just a school of girls.”

Creating a Safe Environment for Learning and Growth

It’s within this school for girls that confidence is built from the earliest pre-K learners through 12th grade. “We have set up a learning environment where girls learn how to make mistakes and they learn how to fail in a safe environment,” says Macziewski. “They learn that actually failure’s great—because you then learn from that and go on and do even better the next time.”

This nurturing approach to learning develops students who aren’t afraid to tackle big challenges and make a difference in their communities. Take Baldwin junior Nava Khojasteh, who founded a nonprofit tutoring organization that has raised over $5,000 and provided 150+ hours of free math instruction to underserved students—earning her recognition as Main Line Parent’s first Young Woman of Influence Award Winner this fall. Her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to educational equity exemplify the confident, purpose-driven leaders Baldwin cultivates.

Research-Backed Benefits of Single-Sex Education

According to various studies, confidence is actually a bigger predictor of success than IQ among learners. Faculty and staff have created an environment at Baldwin to show girls that they are truly part of a community where they both belong and they matter. “And that by creating that environment, we enable that safe space where they build their confidence,” says Macziewski.

Research shows that girls who graduate from all-girls schools, like Baldwin, go on to major in STEM careers at six times the rate of those who have graduated from co-ed schools. Additional research has shown that graduates from all-girls schools are more likely to ask for—and receive—better feedback from faculty or professors in college. Graduates from all-girls schools also receive feedback that they’re better writers because there’s more individualized feedback given to them throughout their careers within a single-sex institution.

Empowering Students to Achieve Their Dreams

“I look at the girls and the confidence that they build while they’re here, and they learn that they truly can accomplish anything that they set their mind to,” says Macziewski. “And that to me is really powerful in an all-girls’ school. And alums go on to do these really amazing things, and they stay really connected to our school once they graduate.”

The roster of successful graduates and alumnae from Baldwin is the best way current students can see what is possible for them in the future. “We invite alums back to campus to meet with our juniors and seniors and talk to them about college, as well as about life beyond college,” says Macziewski. “We have alums that come back to campus to share their stories, to offer advice and help.”

Real-World Experience Through Senior Externships

Every May, Baldwin seniors have the unique experience of taking part in an externship program where they work in a field that they are interested in. Many alums are part of that experience. Past graduates open up everything from art studios to Wall Street offices to give Baldwin seniors a real-world glimpse into their chosen career. Seniors pursue a wide range of opportunities from working in hospitals to private equity firms.

“This experience is really beneficial for our seniors,” says Macziewski. “Women who graduate from here really do go on to be extremely successful in their field and do a really amazing job of passing it along to our current students.” It’s something that Macziewski and the faculty and staff constantly instill in current Baldwin students—girls supporting and encouraging each other throughout and beyond their years at the school.

Building Sisterhood Through Sports and Arts Programs

One way these female students cultivate these life-long relationships naturally is on the sports fields. “Every girl is required to play a sport from 6th grade through 12th grade,” explains Macziewski. “Playing on teams is really important in helping the girls have that sense of belonging and that sense of trust and foundation so that they can lean into learning and doing hard things.”

A strong theater and arts program at Baldwin also allows the students to be creative and work alongside one another. “We have an arts program with an award-winning acapella group called the B-Flats and an art studio where girls can take classes in ceramics, jewelry, and visual art painting,” says Macziewski. “We truly have something for every interest.”

The Baldwin Experience: Where Excellence Meets Community

From the innovative STEM labs to the sports fields, Baldwin’s close-knit student body is truly a sisterhood. The earliest grades are inspired by the confidence of the upperclass students, who model that with hard work and perseverance, they can achieve anything.

“Our girls will tell me they love being in a single-sex school during the day,” says Macziewski. “And they love the opportunity to have interactions with boys outside of school in our co-curriculars. Single-sex education is a gift. Our students appreciate so much having this experience—and what this experience is doing for them currently and for their future.”

Register To Attend Their Fall Open House

Explore the campus with the student Lamplighters, engage with staff, and discover what makes Baldwin such a dynamic community at their Fall Open House:

October 8 – Middle & Upper School
October 9 – Lower School

Register here.

---

Photos courtesy of The Baldwin School, as seen in the Women of Influence Guide.

The Baldwin School’s story supports the Main Line Parent Community. Collaborate with us.