Recognized for Improving Gender Representation in AP Computer Science Principles
Lancaster, KY─Garrard County High 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.
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. In 2023, Garrard County High School was one of 834 recognized in the category of AP Computer Science Principles (CSP).
“We're excited to extend our congratulations to the female AP computer science students and Mrs. Joanna Stevens for contributing to the journey toward gender equality in computer science education," shared Principal Michael Anderson. "We take pride in our school earning this distinction and eagerly anticipate the success of these young students, as well as others, in their pursuit of excellence in computer science education and careers.”
Garrard County High School’s AP Computer Science Principles is taught by Mrs. Joanna Stevens. Mrs. Joanna Stevens is in her 14th year of teaching in the secondary math classroom. Joanna is passionate about empowering her students to chase their dreams. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, the 2014 Kentucky High School Teacher of the Year, and the 2022-2023 Kentucky Board of Education Non-Voting Teacher Member. Joanna has presented multiple times at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) conference and trained teachers across the country and internationally with Desmos. Joanna and her husband, Will, enjoy traveling and cheering for the Kentucky Wildcats. They are eagerly anticipating the arrival of their son in May.
Mrs. Stevens' students express gratitude for a teacher who invests in them and equips them with the skills necessary for success. AP Computer Science Principles student Paytin Dailey states, "Mrs. Stevens has created a fun and engaging environment and has transformed coding from a subject to a passion, making the world of technology an exciting adventure for everyone in the class."
“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 Garrard County High School welcome so many more young women into this vital field.”
The first year of AP Computer Science Principles in 2016-17 attracted more students than any other AP course debut, and participation is on the rise. In 2023,164,505 students took the AP CSP Exam—more than triple the number of exam takers in the course’s first year. In 2023, 55,572 women took the AP CSP Exam, more than four times the number who tested in 2017.
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.
These findings highlight the importance of schools nationwide achieving gender parity in AP computer science classrooms. Overall, female students remain underrepresented in our high school computer science classes, accounting for just 34% of AP Computer Science Principles participants and 26% of AP Computer Science A participants. Currently, 57.5% of the nation’s high schools teach foundational computer science. The 1,127 schools that receive this year’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award serve as inspirations and models for all U.S. high schools.