WORCESTER, Mass. - A Worcester school is celebrating growth as it welcomes its first two classes of girls this year. 

The Nativity School is a Jesuit middle school that started teaching boys 21 years ago. 

It established a girl’s division after launching a $20 million campaign and started a fifth and sixth-grade class for girls this fall. 

The school said the Julie Powers Girls Division is the first tuition-free private school for girls in Central Massachusetts. 

“We're extremely excited to welcome the first two classes of girls to Nativity Worcester,” said President Tom McKenney. “We've been proud to be able to welcome boys for the last 21 years. I think [we have provided] a life-changing education. And now it's great that we can bring in our first 29 girls and provide them a transformative experience and continue to grow our impact for years to come."

There are currently 29 girls in the fifth and sixth grades. They're hoping to get to about 60. 

Applications open Nov. 1 for anyone interested in attending the school.