For the first group of Bright Beginnings students, the success has continued through their first-grade year. The other 2 met Expected Growth. The number of Low Performing schools dropped from 22 in 1997 to 1 in 1999. At a minimum, IB students are required to take college-level English, math and foreign language courses before completing the program. Some CMS IB graduates enter college as sophomores.
Students are able to earn college credit while still in high school.
The number of IB exams taken by CMS students more than doubled from 1996 to 1999. In 1999, CMS students took 1,172 IB exams. CMS students took more AP exams than 23 entire states . CMS had 301 AP Scholars in 1999, the most ever. In the Class of 2000, CMS has 38 National Merit Scholar Semifinalists , up from 22 in the Class of 1999.