Two Richmond County School System schools are the only local schools awarded the College Board’s 2020 AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award winners.  

The College Board acknowledges the work of each school to close the gender equity gap in computer science. Schools receiving the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have achieved either 50 percent or higher female exam taker representation in one or both AP computer science courses, or a percentage of female computer science exam takers that meets or exceeds that of the school’s female population.  

Lucy C. Laney High School is being recognized for the number of female students participating in the AP Computer Science Principles course. Westside High School received the award for female students in AP Computer Science A course.  

“We are delighted to be recognized by the College Board for our efforts to have more female students participate in advanced computer science classes. This award speaks to our teachers and counselors commitment to identify and support our female students as they realize their capabilities in computer science courses” says Dr. Marquez Hall, Laney High School principal.  

The Alliance for Cyber Education (ACE) subcommittee of the CSRA Alliance is a local partner in inspiring students to consider careers in cybersecurity and computer science. 

ACE Subcommittee Chairman Karyn Nixon says, “This recognition from the College Board for two of our local schools is encouraging as we develop programs and add resources to ensure barriers are removed from a student’s potential to build the future they desire.  Early access to computer science instruction closes the cybersecurity skills gap. Currently, there are over 17,000 cybersecurity job openings in the state of Georgia.”* 

Of the 1,119 schools across the nation that received the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, 831 were honored for AP CSP, 232 for AP CSA, and 56 for both courses.