CARRBORO - It's not that Rosy Moo doesn't have a computer -- it's just that without Internet access, doing homework can be downright impossible.

That's why the fifth grader at Frank Porter Graham Elementary was excited when Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools opened a computer lab in her apartment complex Wednesday.

"I just learned English better, so now it's more about how to use computers to find things," the 13-year-old explained. "Now I can come to this lab when I'm at home."

In an effort to broaden Internet access in the community, the school district has partnered with Durham-based apartment owners General Services Corp. to create residential computer labs for students.

The pilot lab opened last week at Moo's complex, Carolina Apartments, off N.C. 54. More than 60 percent of dwellers in the 209-unit, low-to-moderate income development are families, including around 90 students.

The complex is also home to around 20 families of Burmese and Karen refugees, including Moo, whose family came to the United States two years ago.

"To meet the needs of students in the district across the digital divide, we have to be creative," said Renny Johnson, the school district's Community Connection coordinator.

Computers have been provided at no cost by the Kramden Institute, a Durham-based nonprofit. Over the last year, Kramden has provided 150 low-income, area students with in-home computers.

But providing a computer is not enough to inspire voluntary summer learning, Johnson emphasized. The school district's Instructional Services division also installed each computer with Rosetta Stone English language software so ESL students can continue language learning.

"When you miss out on language skills over the summer, it can be like starting from scratch," Johnson said.

This appeals to Moo and her two younger siblings, who have been using the software during the school year. Johnson said the installation of the software was specially targeted toward the Karen and Burmese populations in the complex. Rosetta Stone software uses a mix of images, text and sound to naturally build up a student's vocabulary and knowledge of grammar.

Ibn McClain, 17, is a junior at Carrboro High School who also lives at the complex. He says his family's computer has been broken for a long time. He sometimes stays after school and football practice to use a computer, but he said he's going to need access to one more often when he starts researching colleges.

"It's difficult to do homework," he said. "Sometimes I wind up just doing all my assignments by hand."

His mother, Shelley, said she's glad for the new lab.

"It'll finally put them at a good advantage with other kids," she said.

Ray Reitz, chief technology officer for the school district, estimated that 10 percent of its student population does not have at-home Internet access.

"It provides a great challenge for these kids to compete with others who have home access," he said.

This computer lab could be the first of several, Johnson added. If all goes well, the school district plans to open more in some of GSC's other complexes.

The lab will initially be open Monday through Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. Hours could be expanded if the lab can find community volunteers to monitor usage.

sadia.latifi@nando.com or 932-2002