SACO – Educators across the state are keeping an eye on an experimental boys-only class being taught at Thornton Academy.

Administrators set up the freshman English class to see whether it would boost learning for boys, who are lagging behind girls in academic achievement.

The experiment at the privately run school, which serves as a public school for Saco, Dayton and Arundel, is one of a handful at Maine schools. In Portland, two fourth-grade classes at Harrison Lyseth Elementary School are separated by sex in some subjects.

Other public schools offering same-sex instruction are in New Haven and Hartford, Conn., and Dorchester, Mass., the Maine Sunday Telegram reported.

It’s a growing trend nationwide. In 1995, three public schools offered single-sex instruction nationwide compared to 366 public schools today, according to the National Association for Single Sex Public Education.

Mary Nasse, who retired as Thornton’s associate headmaster last year, said the decision to try a same-sex English class came after a widening gulf between the academic achievement of boys and girls at the school.

The gap in last year’s graduating class on writing scores was wider than ever, with girls outperforming boys by 37 points. Girls also outperformed boys in math and reading.

The English department and teacher Greg Dumas were willing to try something different to see whether it made a difference.

“Let’s just take a group of kids, a teacher who is interested, and just see,” said Headmaster Carl Stasio.

So far, Nasse and Dumas said the class has been a success in terms of enthusiasm. All but one of the 19 boys in the class said they would sign up for another all-boys English class next year if it were offered.

Matt Dunn of Saco said at first he thought having a class without girls would be weird but soon changed his mind.

“You don’t have to worry about what you say,” said Dunn.