Wed Nov 20 14:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Marmion Academy to Go Co-Ed in 2026
**AURORA, IL –** After over 90 years as an all-boys school, Marmion Academy will welcome female students starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The college-prep high school announced Tuesday that it will adopt a hybrid co-ed model following a vote by the Marmion Abbey chapter of monks.
The new model will initially feature single-gender classes for freshmen and sophomores, transitioning to co-ed classes for juniors and seniors. Abbot Joel Rippinger stated that this decision, reached after a year of study and reflection, aligns with the school’s values while preparing students for a diverse world. He cited benefits such as richer classroom discussions, diverse perspectives, and enhanced collaborative skills.
The change also aims to meet the needs of the local Catholic community and ensure the long-term growth of the academy. Officials believe many families would appreciate the opportunity to send their daughters to a school with Marmion’s established Benedictine tradition and Catholic education.
This is not the first significant change for Marmion Academy, which consolidated campuses in 1971, dropped its military designation in 1994, and closed its residential program in 2002. The school plans to engage with students, parents, faculty, and the broader community in the coming months to finalize the implementation of the co-ed model.
First Piper 