We have also had the highest scores in the state's High School Proficiency Test for the past six years. Community's students use extensive communication technologies just like real scientists. In fact technology is a central theme of the entire science curriculum. Using various software packages, some developed at UM, they gathered information about environmental changes on the pond and reported their results and analyses to the agency using a modeling software tool to predict future trends. All ninth grade students learn to use word processing, spreadsheet, drawing, and slideshow as well as modeling and data visualization programs.
All students learn to do complex searches on the internet.
All tenth graders learn to make web pages and to post them to the Community Web site. Student web pages are regularly used by other schools and individuals outside of Ann Arbor. We have been supported by the National Science Foundation and the University of Michigan.