Fayette County High and Whitewater High have been honored by the College Board for their efforts to increase female representation in AP computer science courses.
Studying computer science can open doors for students, giving them the tools to excel, and setting them up for high-paying careers, but girls have been left behind for far too long. That’s why College Board honors schools for expanding young women’s access to AP computer science classes and for the important steps they’re taking to reach gender parity.
Schools receiving the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have achieved either 50% or higher female exam taker representation in one of or both AP computer science courses, or a percentage of female computer science exam takers that meets or exceeds that of the school’s female population.
Fayette County High, under teacher Dennis Kramlich, won the College Board AP Computer Science A Female Diversity Award. FCHS is one of 209 schools that received the award in AP Computer Science A.
Whitewater High, under teacher Angel Ligon, won the College Board AP Computer Science Principles Female Diversity Award. Whitewater is one of 832 schools that received the award in AP Computer Science Principles.
The winners represent a broad range of high schools from across the country and around the world. They include private, public, and charter schools, large and small student bodies, rural and urban populations, and specialized high schools, along with generalized programs.
Providing female students with access to computer science courses is critical to ensuring gender parity in the industry’s high-paying jobs and to drive innovation, creativity, and representation. The median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $97,430 in May 2021. However, women represent just 24% of the five million people in computing occupations.
According to a Google study, 54% of female computer science majors took AP CSA in high school. College Board research finds that students are nearly twice as likely to enroll in AP CSA after taking AP CSP.
Diversity as applied in business, government and education today is code for “not white males”. Competence, character, hard work, results . . . not in the conversation.
Bravo for the school’s success at getting more students with a technical aptitude to learn computer science, or any STEM discipline. We need that as a country.
Interesting to me is the admission that the lack of “gender parity” in earnings is due to fewer women pursuing careers that pay well, not sexism. I’m also pleased to see that we are only talking about two genders, not 48.
48? Is that the current total? Does that include furries too – the kids who identify as cats? I hear we have a few of them running around Fayette County schools and teachers aren’t allowed to challenge this nonsense. Can I identify as a 66 year old so I get senior homestead exemption and not have to pay for this cr*p?
Just so you know, you’re totally WRONG.
I know some folks on a team that’s almost totally women from diverse backgrounds. They’re actually targeting males of any color to join the team since diversity takes many forms.
I’m sure you’re like 70 though and don’t get that.
Lever – You really got me there, I have to admit. There’s really a team of women who want males to join? Who knew? Well, that proves that diversity is legit.
In the spirit of helping each other on our diversity journey, I need to point out your obvious bias against old people. Your words are violence and ageist.
But I’m here for you. I know you can do better if you try. Be well.
Is the goal excellence, or diversity? If diversity is the goal – then it’s a watered down waste of time. If excellence is the goal, regardless of the sex or racial background of the student – then bravo. I had a family member who served as the department chair of the computer science department at a state university here in the south. She (yes, she – and she earned her accolades through hard work) said the majority of the kids she taught had NO business being in computer science, but they were encouraged to pursue it out of diversity requirements. She cut no slack, showed no favors, and graded the kids fairly and according to their merits, not their sex or skin color. This push for diversity for “diversity’s sake” is reckless and disgusting.