Several area schools are among a little more than 1,100 nationwide being recognized for helping to promote interest in computer science among female students.
Greater Latrobe, Deer Lakes and East Allegheny high schools and Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy are among 22 public schools in Pennsylvania that have received the 2020 College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award.
The schools qualified for the recognition by having female students represent 50% or more of those enrolled in one of two Advanced Placement courses — AP Computer Science Principles or AP Computer Science A. Schools also could receive the award based on female students who took a related AP exam that offers the opportunity for college credit.
Greater Latrobe, which has offered the Computer Science Principles course since the 2018-19 school year, qualified for the AP award through participation in the exam. All five of the female students who most recently took the course also completed the exam, according to instructor Wendy Lint.
“All the girls took it, and they did very well,” said Lint.
She noted the College Board is “trying to encourage more girls to take the exam. The ones who take the test tend to be the ones who go into the field and continue on with computer science.
“As a female who graduated from college with a degree in computer science, I saw first hand the development of technology that is taken for granted today, so it is great to see my students become interested and excited about what they can do with technology,” Lint said. “Statistics show that the biggest drop off in females in computer science is from ages 13-17. This drop affects the ability for females to be competitive for high tech jobs that are generally higher-paying and available.”
Lint noted the AP Principles course provides “an overview of what computer science involves.”
For students in grades 9-12, Greater Latrobe also offers courses in computer programming and the AP Computer Science A course, in which students analyze, write and test computer codes.
Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy was recognized because 11 of 20 students enrolled in its Computer Science A course were female.
“Students participating in our Computers and Connections concentration have taken the advanced computer science course since the 2010-2011 school year,” said academy Principal Shawn McNeil.
It was the second year for Deer Lakes to capture the AP diversity award, based on enrollment in its Computer Science Principles course, Assistant Superintendent Bobbi-Ann Barnes said.
She credited instructor Yvette Beck for attracting female students to the course. “She’s very passionate about the computer science courses,” Barnes said.
State and private grants helped East Allegheny introduce its AP Computer Science Principles course last year. Technology coach Holly Spallone notes all seven students who enrolled were female, resulting in the diversity recognition.
According to the College Board, more than 116,000 students took the AP Computer Science Principles exam in 2020 — a 21% increase over the previous year and more than double the number of exam takers during 2016-17, the first year for the course.
In 2020, 39,570 women took the exam, nearly three times the number who tested in 2017.
But, overall, female students remain underrepresented in computer science classes, accounting for just 34% of AP Computer Science Principles participants.
“Today’s students need the power to shape technology, not just cope with it,” said Stefanie Sanford, College Board chief of global policy and external relations. “Young women deserve an equal opportunity to become the next generation of entrepreneurs, engineers and tech leaders. Closing the gap in computer science education empowers young women to build the future they want.”
Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff at 724-836-6622, [email protected] or via Twitter .
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