The Schechter School of Long Island has earned the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science Principles for the second consecutive year.
Schools honored with an AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded access to AP computer science courses for female students in their communities.
“I am thrilled that we won this award for a second consecutive year. Not only are we convincing a more diverse group to try computer science, but we are also retaining that diversity in the highest levels of computer science offered here at Schechter,” said Pablo Garcia, Schechter’s mathematics and computer science chair. “Our Senior-level course has a perfect 50% split of boys and girls this year, which is a dramatic improvement from how computer science electives looked ten years ago.”
“Computer science is a way for me to solve problems and build things that make a real impact,” said Shir Levenson, SSLI ‘26). “Receiving an award for our hard work is a beautiful way to be recognized and is a true motivation to keep striving for excellence. I am honored to be a part of a growing community of women in tech who are shaping the future.”
During the 2023-24 school year, 1,153 institutions achieved an AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for CSA, CSP or both courses. Award contenders must either have reached 50% or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or have achieved a percentage of female computer science exam takers that meets or exceeds that of the school’s female population.
Schechter School of Long Island was one of only 847 recognized for improving female representation in AP CSP.
AP Computer Science Principles was first launched in the 2016-17 school year. In 2024, 175,261 students took the AP CSP Exam—almost 4 times the number of exam takers in the course’s first year. 60,259 of that number were female students, approximately 4 1/2 times the number who tested in 2017.
Overall, AP computer science course participation has increased 161% since 2017, broadening STEM career opportunities for more students.
“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 seven years since we began the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, it’s been heartening to see schools like Schechter School of Long Island welcome so many more young women into this vital field.”
