Do female students outperform boys? Here’s what US teens think about gender bias in schools

A new report by the Pew Research Center sheds light on how teenagers in the United States perceive gender differences in their schools. While most students say boys and girls are treated equally, the data reveals subtle patterns in how young people view performance, leadership and participation across genders.

Here’s a closer look at what teens think is really happening inside their classrooms.​

According to the Pew Research Center, 42% of US teens believe girls get better grades than boys in their schools. Only 3% think boys perform better, while a majority (55%) say academic outcomes are roughly equal.

Interestingly, girls themselves are more likely to acknowledge this perceived advantage, with 47% of girls saying they outperform boys, compared to 36% of boys who agree. This perception aligns with broader educational data showing higher average academic achievement among girls in many US states.

In terms of leadership, the classroom hierarchy looks more even. The Pew report found that 56% of teens think boys and girls have an equal chance of holding leadership roles in their schools. However, 27% believe girls are more likely to be chosen as leaders, while 16% say boys are favoured.

Both boys and girls share similar views here, suggesting that the gender gap in school leadership is less pronounced than in other areas of school life. Still, the perception that girls increasingly take the lead could reflect broader cultural shifts in how authority and confidence are rewarded in education.

A striking 78% of teens say their teachers treat boys and girls about equally. Yet, some students sense an imbalance. Around 16% think teachers favour girls, while 6% believe boys receive preferential treatment.

The divide is sharper among male students: nearly one in four boys (23%) say teachers are more supportive of girls, compared with 9% of girls who feel the same. This suggests that perceptions of fairness can differ significantly by gender, even in classrooms where educators aim for neutrality.

Participation styles also differ. The Pew report found that 34% of teens think girls speak up more often in class, while 18% say boys are more vocal. About half (48%) feel that both groups contribute equally.

When it comes to behaviour, the divide is sharper. 63% of teens say boys are more disruptive during lessons, while just 4% believe girls cause more interruptions. The remaining 32% see no real difference. Boys and girls largely agree on these observations, hinting that behavioural stereotypes may have some grounding in everyday school life.

While the classroom may be moving towards equality, the playing field tells another story. Among teens who attend schools with sports teams, 53% say boys’ teams are valued more than girls’ teams. Only 2% believe the opposite, and 44% see both as equally valued.

This view cuts across gender lines: 51% of boys and 56% of girls agree that boys’ teams receive more recognition and support. Athletic culture, it seems, remains one of the few spaces where traditional gender hierarchies persist strongly.

Overall, the Pew Research Center’s findings suggest that American teens view their schools as relatively fair spaces, though small yet visible gendered perceptions remain.