Actually, the education for girls in these times was basing on rather sexist mentalities, and focusing on typically "feminine" jobs, duties and "servitude", while the cultural rebellions and conflicts among the youth were spreading and raising lots of uneasy questions, controversies and conflicts. Boarding schools for girls (higher education) were an alternative for professional preparation, even if they were very strict and old-fashioned. But wait, among the devoted nuns, there were some very intelligent, rather "rebellious spirits" (who were and still are studying and questioning certain "man" made "principles" of male "superiority") - and they inspired us.
But in our times, girls (from the common groups, of course) were not taken seriously (though schooling was/is, in most regions and places, compulsory, while higher education was/is expensive and involves often greater distances), as they were expected to devote themselves to family, charity, church and domestic duties or industrial and/or rural labour ... (It looks as if there was a certain tendence to send working girls and women back to low pay or unpaid "duties".)
On our side, some boarding schools had/have a good reputation, though religious schools were often considered as too strict and, somehow, as quixotic.
Actually, it is still difficult to say which education system is better: public schools, boarding schools (for higher education), home education, or other systems, as situations and circumstances vary much between regions, places, systems, mentalities, resources, beliefs, living conditions, families and the individuals to be educated.
By the way, wasn't home education also a solution to reach families living in remote or isolated regions without local schools? The lessons were/are transmitted "live" directly over broadcasting, radio, TV or video systems and, more recently, on-line connection, and teachers could communicate directly with parents and children.
I saw an Australian documentation about this form of home schooling long ago, and it was inspiring.