Delaware County Christian School earned the 2022 College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science. DC was one of 832 schools recognized for 50% or higher female representation in the AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) course. Schools honored with the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded girls’ access in AP computer science courses.
The first year of AP Computer Science Principles in 2016-17 attracted more students than any other AP course debut, and participation continues to rise. In 2022, 134,651 students took the AP CSP Exam—more than triple the number of exam takers in the course’s first year. In 2022, 44,811 women took the AP CSP Exam, more than three times the number who tested in 2017.
“We’re thrilled to congratulate our female AP Computer Science students and our Computer Science teacher, Mr. Mike Militello, in broadening the reach and impact of computer science education at DC,” said Mark Dixon, Head of Upper School. “We’re honored that our school has earned this distinction and look forward to seeing these young women and others pursue and achieve success in computer science education and careers. We remain committed to exploring new ways for DC to provide an innovative and exemplary education for all students, rooted in Christ."
“We have been offering AP Computer Science Principles since 2018, the second year that the exam was available and we now offer the more advanced AP Computer Science A as well. Computer science at DC was initially offered as a SAIL class and it is amazing to see how far we have come in growing this program,” said Mike Militello, DC’s Computer Science teacher. “I am so thankful that a diverse group of students, male and female, continue to enjoy the class, do well, and grow their interest and abilities in science and technology. In fact, since offering AP CSP, three of our female students have gone on to major in Computer Science in college. It is exciting to see DC playing a role at bringing more women into science and engineering.”
According to College Board’s research, 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. 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 $97,430 in May 2021. However, women represent just 24% of the five million people in computing occupations.
However, female students still remain underrepresented in high school computer science classes, accounting for just 33% of AP Computer Science Principles participants and 25% of AP Computer Science A participants. Currently, 51% of the nation’s high schools teach foundational computer science. The schools such as DC that receive this year’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award serve as inspirations and models for all U.S. high schools.
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