Kiski Area nationally recognized for gender diversity in computer science
The Kiski Area School District has been nationally recognized for achieving high female representation in Advanced Placement computer science.
Kiski Area High School announced last week that it earned the 2022 College Board Female Diversity Award for AP Computer Science Principles.
It’s the first time the district has earned an award in this category.
Schools receiving this award achieved 50% or higher female Advanced Placement exam participation in AP computer science courses. Female students remain underrepresented in high school computer science classes, with just 33% of AP Computer Science Principles participants and 25% of AP Computer Science participants.
In 2022, Kiski Area High School had 262 students enrolled in Advanced Placement classes, and 157 of those students were female.
In AP Computer Science courses, 18 of the 35 students enrolled in AP Computer Science Principals were female.
“We’re incredibly excited to be recognized by the college board for this award,” Principal Chad Roland said.
The 2022 winners include 1,105 U.S. and international public, private and charter high schools.
The computer science teachers at Kiski Area are Melissa Schaeffer and Amy Calisti.
“They did a great job speaking with students and recruiting them for class,” Roland said.
The College Board instituted the award five years ago.
“Computer science is the source code of our economy and so much of our daily lives,” said Trevor Packer, head of the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program. “In the five years since we began the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, it’s been heartening to see schools like Kiski Area High School welcome so many young women into this vital field.”
According to data from the College Board, female students who take AP Computer Science Principles in high school are five times as likely to major in computer science in college, compared to female students who don’t take the course.
According to data from the National Girls Collaborative Project, women earn 18% of computer science bachelor’s degrees and make up only 28% of the engineering and science workforce.
Kiski Area computer science sophomore Rachael Spaniel was motivated by her natural curiosity.
“We need more women in the computer science field,” Spaniel said. “I wanted to take this course to learn about what happens behind the screen that I look at every day so I can appreciate the technology and science involved.”
Her classmate, Maliea Lauschus, agreed. She plans to pursue a career in physics.
“I would love to acquire a job in astrophysics. I knew this class could expand my proficiency in the field,” said Lauschus, a sophomore. “Although it’s difficult, I get to express my creativity through coding. I really enjoy it.”
Spaniel said the course has its moments.
“It challenges me and makes me stressed out,” Spaniel said, but when I understand it, it makes me feel accomplished.”
To view the complete list of winners, click here.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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