Loyola Academy Earns College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award

We are pleased to announce that Loyola Academy is recognized for closing the gender gap in AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) and has earned the College Board's AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding young women’s access to the AP course. This award acknowledges schools for their work to engage more female students toward equal gender representation in computer science classes. Loyola is one of only 831 schools to be recognized for achieving this important result in CSP.
“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,” says Stefanie Sanford, College Board chief of global policy and external relations.

Out of the 20,000 institutions that offer AP courses, 1,119 achieved either 50% or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or a percentage of the female computer science examinees meeting or exceeding that of the school’s female population during the 2019–2020 school year. That’s nearly 37% more than the 818 schools recognized last year. In 2020, Loyola was one of 831 recognized in the category of AP Computer Science Principles.

“It is so rewarding and such a blessing to be recognized for the work that teachers at Loyola Academy have done to instill confidence in our young ladies,” says Anita Debarlaben, computer science teacher and Women in STEAM Club moderator. “Our Women in STEAM Club has been crucial in helping us to reach this milestone.”

When Debarlaben arrived at Loyola five years ago, there were only three female students enrolled across all of the computer science courses. Today, nearly 50% of computer science students at Loyola are female.  

Research shows that female students who take AP computer science are more likely to major in computer science in college compared with matched peers. By leading in the diversification of computer science education, Loyola is preparing female students for the high-paying, in-demand jobs of the future and giving them the opportunity to help solve some of society's most challenging problems. 

These findings make it all the more imperative that schools nationwide achieve gender parity in AP Computer Science classrooms. The 1,119 schools that receive this year’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award serve as inspirations and models for all American high schools where, overall, female students remain under-represented in computer science classes. There is still a long way to go to achieve equal gender representation in the field of computer science, but Loyola has made tremendous strides in encouraging and engaging its female students. 

Congratulations to Mrs. Debarlaben, who has been instrumental in Loyola Academy achieving this distinction! 


Click here to learn more about the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award. 
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