HNA Earns AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award Holy Names Academy

Holy Names Academy has once again earned the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding young women's access to AP Computer Science A (CSA). Among the 22,000+ schools nationwide that offer AP courses, HNA was one of only 225 to receive this important recognition.

AP CSA students learn to design and implement computer programs that solve problems relevant to today's society. According to a Google study, 54% of female computer science majors in college took AP CSA in high school. Although female participation in AP CSA has increased 69% since 2017, female students remain underrepresented in high school computer science classes nationwide, accounting for just 26% of AP CSA participants. HNA recognizes that providing female students with access to computer science courses is critical to ensuring gender parity in the industry's high-paying jobs and driving innovation, creativity, and representation.

"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 six years since we began the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, it's been heartening to see schools like Holy Names Academy welcome so many more young women into this vital field."

Holy Names Academy has long been a leader in computer science education for its young women, introducing computer education in 1997. "When we first introduced AP Computer Science, our students accounted for more than half of the AP Computer Science exam takers in the State of Washington! Our program continues to grow, with many of our alumnae thriving in careers in STEM fields," says Vice Principal of Academics Dr. Marianne McGah. "We are honored to be recognized among the schools moving the needle towards gender equality in computer science education, and we congratulate our AP computer science students and their teachers for this outstanding award."

HNA Earns AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award

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