The Associated Press

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Doogie Howser, P.C. Nine-year-old Corey Graley, who lives in Rome Township, Ohio, is taking an introductory computer class required for all students at Marshall University.

It covers programs such as Excel and PowerPoint.

Corey is the youngest student ever to enroll at Marshall, which offers a variety of early admission options for students who have not completed high school.

Fifty or more high school, and more rarely middle school, students take classes each semester, said Martha Woodward, executive director of the John R. Hall Center for Academic Excellence and the Yeager Scholars Program.

The students are admitted after a screening process that requires them to meet academic standards and obtain letters of recommendation.

Students who are below junior status in high school have to see Woodward for admission.

"People call up and say, 'My child is really smart and needs stimulation, and should he take college classes?' The answer generally is no, it's probably not appropriate," Woodward said.

"Occasionally, you have a child that yes, this is the appropriate thing, and let's explore and see how it will work."

Corey's mother, Kim, had noticed that he grew bored with soccer and karate. He excelled in the talented and gifted math program at his elementary school and loved video games.

She thought he might like computers.

"We were trying to find a new hobby," Kim Graley said. "I told Corey, 'This is a college class. You have to be sure you want to take it.' I think he just needed a challenge."

She and her husband, Jerry, couldn't find a children's computer class in their area in southern Ohio, so they turned to Marshall.

Woodward had some concerns. How would a child who had already finished a day of school react to a 21/2-hour night class?

"That's a long time for a child to sit," Woodward said. "We talked about how he would feel being in the class with all the big people. Not that there would be anyone that wouldn't be nice to him, but there is an intimidation factor."

Corey scored 95 percent on his first test, the highest in the class of 30 students, said professor Saleem Salameh.

"It seems to me he's getting good help at home, and when he comes to the class, he knows the subject," Salameh said. "He prepares himself well."

On the first day of class in January, Salameh thought Kim Graley was the student.

"I've had experience before with students who couldn't find a baby sitter and had to bring a child to class," he said. "I told her, 'You can come to the class, and you can bring him any time."'

"I said, 'He's the student,' and I showed him Corey's ID card," Kim Graley said.

Corey keeps his student ID in his wallet, and he's eager to show it to anyone who asks. Getting the ID card was difficult, Jerry Graley said.

"I went into the office, and I said, 'I'm not kidding or anything, but I need to get him an ID.' I saw a sign that said you needed to provide a driver's license."

"We didn't have it," Corey said.

Although she attends class with Corey, Kim Graley is adamant that he does the work.

"All the time, he looks at his mother, and she looks at him. She gives him emotional support," Salameh said. "I think his mother is playing a big role in his success."

Corey isn't sure whether he'll take another college class. Although he has enjoyed learning more about computers, he said he's still looking for a hobby.

"I told him I would like to see him in future classes, and he said he wanted to take a year off," Salameh said.

"It's not easy going to college and school," Kim Graley said.

"No, definitely not," Corey said.