Although schools should be places which boost children's self-esteem, they usually play an important part in damaging the self-esteem of their female students through various forms of gender bias. This study explored how public coeducational schools can strengthen the self-esteem of girls in grades 7-12. Twenty subjects, all of them female, Caucasian, and middle or upper-middle class, participated in the study; 10 female students and 10 teachers and staff members. The researcher met with subjects individually and then analyzed the subjects' responses as to how schools can improve girls' self-esteem. Results indicate a need for teacher and staff training for awareness and skills, as well as curriculum reform, to strengthen girls' self-esteem. The interviews reinforced previous research which found that public coeducational schools are not addressing the issue of gender bias and that girls will not receive an equitable education until these inequities are resolved. Unlike educators in girls' schools, teachers and staff at the public coeducational schools were not focused on gender issues in their schools or classrooms. Schools will have to commit more than superficial resources to teacher training if they are sincere in their efforts to strengthen the self-esteem of their female students. Contains 11 references. (RJM)