Student attrition and low graduation rates are critical problems in computer science education. Disappointing graduation rates and declining student interest have caught the attention of business leaders, researchers and universities. With weak graduation rates and little interest in scientific computing, many are concerned about the USA's ability to meet current demands and to remain competitive, both in product development and technological advances. This study targeted student attrition in the first year of college by examining the impact of learning communities on freshmen computer science students. Factors including class size, technology in the classroom, and active learning environments were infused into the study groups to determine the impact on student success and persistence. (Contains 3 tables.)