Marmion Academy, a college-prep high school in the Fox Valley, has announced it will implement a hybrid co-ed model after more than 93 years as single-sex, all-boys school. The announcement follows a November 16 vote by the Marmion Abbey chapter of monks to approve the planning and implementation of a co-ed hybrid model, with plans to accept female students as early as the 2026-2027 academic year.
“Throughout our long history, Marmion Academy has implemented changes in its structure, while remaining true to our values of academic achievement, spiritual formation, and character development for our students,” Abbot Joel Rippinger, OSB stated. “After a year of intense study, discernment and prayerful reflection, we’ve determined that it was the right time to make this change. Our values, rooted in the Catholic Benedictine tradition, will remain at the heart of our mission.”
Early outlines of the new model would have freshman and sophomore students attending single gender classes. Juniors and seniors would attend co-ed classrooms. Other details, including exact timelines, will take shape over the next several months.
“We are confident that this move is in the best interests of our students and the needs of our community,” said Abbot Rippinger. “We look forward to this new chapter in our history and the many opportunities it will bring for our students.”
Abbot Rippinger said the move to a co-ed environment delivers key benefits, including:
•Preparing students for the diverse, interconnected world they will encounter after graduation. A co-ed setting fosters richer discussions, a variety of perspectives, and essential collaborative skills—traits that are increasingly important in today’s world.
•Meeting the needs of the Catholic community in the Fox Valley and surrounding areas, where many families value the Benedictine tradition and Catholic education and are eager to provide their daughters with the transformative experience that Marmion Academy offers.
•Positioning Marmion for long-term growth to ensure a strong and healthy Marmion is available for many generations of young people to come.
—Marmion Academy