AGS Earns College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award
Atlanta Girls’ School has earned the College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science Principles. Schools honored with the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded girls’ access in AP computer science courses.
In 2023, Atlanta Girls’ School was the only independent school in metro Atlanta to receive this recognition and just one of 834 schools throughout the country recognized in the category of AP Computer Science Principles (CSP). More than 1,100 institutions achieved either 50% or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or a percentage of the female computer science exam takers meeting or exceeding that of the school’s female population during the 2022-23 school year.
“As one of the only all-girls’ schools in the state of Georgia, Atlanta Girls’ School is in a unique position to really foster opportunities for girls in the areas of computer science and STEM education,” said AGS mathematics and computer science teacher, Dr. LaTryce Cole. “Given the underrepresentation of women in computer sciences and other STEM fields, AGS is extremely proud to play a role in making progress toward gender parity in computer science education and careers.”
Providing female students with access to computer science courses is critical to ensuring gender parity in the industry’s high-paying jobs and to driving innovation, creativity, and representation. The median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $100,530 in May 2022. However, women represent just 24% of the five million people in computing occupations.
That’s why College Board research about AP CSP is so encouraging. According to the data, female students who take AP CSP in high school are more than five times as likely to major in computer science in college, compared to female students of similar background and academic preparation who did not take CSP. The study also finds AP CSP students are nearly twice as likely to enroll in AP CSA, and that for most students, AP CSP serves as a stepping stone to other advanced AP STEM coursework.
“Computer science is the source code of our economy and much of the career landscape,” said Trevor Packer, Head of the AP Program. “In the six years since we began the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, it’s been heartening to see schools like Atlanta Girls’ School welcome so many more young women into this vital field.”
These findings also highlight the importance of schools nationwide achieving gender parity in AP computer science classrooms. Overall, female students remain underrepresented in high school computer science classes, accounting for just 34% of AP Computer Science Principles participants and 26% of AP Computer Science AP participants. Currently, 57.5% of the nation’s high schools teach foundational computer science. Atlanta Girls’ School along with the other schools receiving this year’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award serve as inspirations and models for all U.S. high schools.