The number of high school students isn't increasing any time soon, and the number of high school options in the Cleveland market doesn't appear to be shrinking. That means competition for students is high.

But the region's private, single- gender schools aren't struggling to fill their seats. In fact, many have been hitting or exceeding their enrollment goals in recent years.

The schools have found ways to differentiate themselves in a crowded market. At Laurel School, that might be its Butler campus. At Hathaway Brown, it could be the chance to focus on specific academic areas. At St. Edward High School, it's the International Baccalaureate program.

And there are the particular qualities they offer just by being an all-girls or all-boys school, although serving only half the population may present at least one significant challenge, in that it narrows the potential student pool.