Computer Science

Computer Science & Applications

Grier's offers technology classes appropriate for a variety of ability and grade levels, including single and double semester-length courses in web design, 3D printing & design, programming, and AP® classes.

Whether students want to bolster their confidence and competence with every day applications, experiment with new technology, or become immersed in computer programming, Computer Science & Applications courses at Grier ensure students leave Grier prepared to navigate technology in college and beyond.

Grier has received College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP® Computer Science Principles and was named a Top STEM High School by Newsweek in 2020.

Courses

List of 9 items.

Design, Create, and Program - Grade: 8

Students will learn the basics of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, 3D Printing, and Programming in Python. With a unique focus on creativity, problem solving and project-based learning, this course gives students the opportunity to explore several important topics of computing using their own ideas and creativity to develop an interest in computer science that will foster further endeavors in the field. Required course for students in grade 8.
Web Design I - Grade: 9-12

This is a project-based course that teaches students how to build their own web pages. Students will learn the languages HTML and CSS. By the end of this course, students will be able to explain how web pages are developed and viewed on the Internet, analyze and fix errors in existing websites, and create their very own multi-page websites.
Web Design II - Grade: 9-12

Students continue their work on webpages, but use incorporate the use of software, including: Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Photoshop to enhance the user experience.
3D Design - Grade: 9-12

Techniques of three-dimensional (3-D) modeling utilizing appropriate software. This includes the creation and modification of 3-D geometric shapes, use of a variety of rendering techniques, and texture. Students will learn how to use a 3D printer to print some of their models.
Advanced 3D Design - Grade: 9-12

Students continue their study of 3D modeling. This class introduces the program Sculptris. More advanced projects are created using depth, springs, colors, and lights.
Introduction to Computer Science - Grade: 9-12

This course introduces the basics of programming in JavaScript, the basics of designing a webpage, and how information is represented digitally and sent over the Internet. This course has a unique focus on creativity, problem solving and project-based learning.
Honors Computer Science - Grade: 9-12

Honors computer science curriculum teaches the foundations of computer science and basic programming, with an emphasis on helping students develop logical thinking and problem solving skills.
AP® Computer Science Principles - Grade: 10 - 12

AP® Computer Science Principles will provide a broad overview of the field of computer science. This course teaches students programming while emphasizing problem solving and logic. Units include: How the Internet Works, Digital Information, Algorithms and Programming, Big Data and Privacy, and Building Apps in JavaScript. Each student prepares a performance task to be submitted to the College Board® and they are required to take the AP® Course Exam. Prerequisites: Intro or Honors Computer Science and teacher recommendation.
AP® Computer Science A - Grade: 11 or 12

AP® Computer Science A introduces students to computer science through programming. Fundamental topics in this course include the design of solutions to problems, the use of data structures to organize large sets of data, the development and implementation of algorithms to process data and discover new information, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems. The course emphasizes object-oriented programming and design using the Java programming language. Prerequisites: AP® Computer Science Principles and teacher recommendation.

Faculty

List of 1 members.

Carol Deremer

Computer Science Department Chair

Grier School STEM Recognized by Newsweek
11/20/2019
Newsweek announced its ranking of the top 5,000 STEM high schools for 2019, honoring excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. At spot #790, Grier falls within the top 3% of 30,000 schools analyzed by Newsweek!
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Zai Focuses on Summer STEM
10/1/2019
Zai D. is another Grier student who shared with us her amazing summer experience. Zai spent the summer before her senior year at Grier visiting Grier alumna Cas C. (‘18) at the University of Chicago, before attending a program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, then another program in Washington D.C., and spent time researching with PhD students!

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Grier Junior is Computer Science and Engineering Young Scholar
9/17/2019
As Isabelle F. enters her Junior year at Grier, she is returning from six weeks researching as a Young Scholar in a Penn State University Lab where she worked 30 hours per week alongside a Computer Science and Engineering professor to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) that can identify plastic in images to raise awareness of the ubiquity of plastic and make sorting mixed recycling more efficient via automated systems.

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IT Corridor Expands Tech at Grier
10/3/2018
Recognizing the importance of STEM in preparing students for the future job market, Grier has developed an IT Corridor. The expansion of existing space includes a 3D printing lab, robotic engineering facility, and classrooms for teaching computer science courses, including AP Computer Science.
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Mary and Emily Win World Robotics Championship!
5/1/2018
Two Grier seniors just won the FIRST® Robotics World Championship in Detroit! The FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC) is a prestigious and highly competitive program for high school students. Teams worldwide participate in building professional grade metal robots that are up to eight and a half feet tall, controlled by a laptop and joystick via WiFi, and constructed over the course of six weeks. Over 3,600 active teams from 27 countries around the world participate in the FRC.
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A Room with a View: Recording Technology Class
11/8/2017
There is a very tiny room above the Grier School auditorium, visible only through an open archway overlooking the performance space. This room is known as the Crow’s Nest, and it is accessed through a suitably tiny door nestled beside a dormitory staircase. Not just anybody is allowed in the Crow’s Nest, but students in Recording Technology Class are among the few, privileged souls allowed entry.
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