ALTON, Ill. — An Alton parochial middle school's experiment to mostly segregate classes by sex last semester got high marks, and the practice continues this school year, its principal says.

"We're still doing it; we've gotten good feedback, and the faculty all likes it," said Judy Kulp, assistant principal at St. Mary's Middle School, 1015 Milton Road in Alton.

"In some classes, it helps the young people," Kulp said. "At that age, they can be too inhibited to ask questions, and in some classes, they may not be apt to ask questions," such as religion and biology.