AURORA, Colo. -- An Aurora charter school that will offer same-sex classes for students from kindergarten to fifth grade is part of a growing trend.

On Wednesday night the Aurora Expeditionary Learning Academy held a lottery, drawing from 380 applicants to fill 240 seats.

The school opens in August.

Administrators said in gender-segregated classes, girls may feel more confident to compete, boys to collaborate and both to explore different roles.

"This isn't an academic achievement panacea," said Audra Philippone, head of school for AXL . "I think it's a more subtle influence, and it's a lifelong thing about taking risks and being confident about who you are."

Arapahoe High School in Littleton has had some same-sex classes since 2004. A spokeswoman said it has been a successful program.