Chestatee High School in Hall County was recently recognized by the College Board for achieving high female representation in its AP Computer Science Principles class.
The school was awarded the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, which recognizes schools that have expanded girls’ access to AP Computer Science courses. Recipients are chosen for achieving female enrollment in computer science courses of 50 percent or higher or having a percentage of female computer science examinees meet or exceed that of the school’s female population.
Chestatee was one of 831 schools that received the award.
“During an unprecedented year, Chestatee High School’s female students have demonstrated their abilities and achievement in their study of AP Computer Science,” Hall County Director of Innovative and Advanced Programs said in a statement Wednesday. “We are proud of this next generation of STEM and computer science professionals.”
According to a release from the Hall County School District, new College Board research has found that AP Computer Science Principles serves as a stepping stone to other advanced AP STEM coursework. Students who take AP Computer Science Principles are also more likely to continue on to other classes in the computer science pathway.
“Chestatee High School’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.”
