Recognized for Closing the Gender Gap in AP Computer Science Principles
Teaneck 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 access for female students in AP computer science courses. This is the second time Teaneck High School has earned this distinction.
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 2021-22 school year. In 2022, Teaneck High School was one of 832 recognized in the category of AP Computer Science Principles (CSP).
"When our schools earn such recognition as the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, it shows that Teaneck High School and the greater Teaneck community appreciate and value the knowledge and skills of our scholars," said Dr. Andre Spencer, Superintendent of Teaneck Public Schools. "Congratulations to the staff for their hard work and diligent efforts in ensuring that our scholars are getting the best educational opportunities."
“We are thrilled to congratulate our female AP computer science students on this outstanding accomplishment,” said Pedro H. Valdes III, Principal of Teaneck High School. “We’re honored that our school has earned this distinction for the second time. We look forward to seeing these young women and others pursue and achieve success in computer science education and their chosen careers. I want to recognize and thank Mr. Sean Riley, Computer Science teacher, Mr. Rolando Monserrat, Supervisor of Science, Education and Technology, and the Teaneck High School Computer Science Department for their persistence and commitment to equity and educational excellence.”
“This accomplishment is the result of an intentional effort to close the gender gap related to technology and computer science, “ said Rolando Monserrat, Supervisor of Science, Technology and Engineering. “This distinction is a step forward in the right direction.”
“Computer science is the source code of our economy and so much of our daily lives,” said Trevor Packer, College Board Head of the AP Program. “In the five years since we began the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, it’s been heartening to see schools like Teaneck High School welcome so many more young women into this vital field.”
According to the College Board, 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 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.
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.
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 backgrounds 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 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 1,105 schools 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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About Teaneck School District
First in the country to voluntarily integrate its schools, our school district provides a wide array of programs to meet the needs and learning styles of approximately 3700 pre-k through grade 12 scholars.
Mission: The Teaneck Public School District educates and empowers students by providing a high quality, rigorous educational experience which prepares students for success within a diverse, global society.
Vision: The Teaneck Advantage: Educational Excellence for All.
For more information, visit www.teaneckschools.org or follow us on Facebook (Teaneck Public School District).