College Board honors two high schools for AP Computer Science Female Diversity

Two Richland One high schools have been awarded the College Board’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science classes.

Columbia High School and Dreher High School were two of more than 1,100 schools nationwide with 50% percent or higher female representation in either AP Computer Science A (CSA) or AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) during the 2021-2022 school year.

Columbia High received the award in the CSP category. According to the College Board, CSP is an “introductory college-level computing course that introduces students to the breadth of the field of computer science.”

“Our school is honored to receive this award,“ said Columbia High Principal Dr. Shawn Washington. “Offering AP Computer Science Principles allows underrepresented populations the opportunity to explore computer science careers with the hopes of achieving equal gender representation in the field of computer science.”

Dreher received the award in the CSA category. According to the College Board, AP CSA students learn to design and implement computer programs that solve problems relevant to today’s society.

“Hitting this mark has been a goal of mine since I began teaching CSA five years ago,” said Dreher computer science teacher Alison Schriro. “It is incredibly rewarding to watch some who had never considered a career path in computer science before enrolling in AP CSA head off to college, pursue a degree in computer science and land jobs in the field. I am honored to play a part in inspiring a future generation of women in STEM.”