Gig Harbor High School has earned the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science. Schools honored with this award have expanded girls’ access in AP computer science courses. 

More than 1,100 institutions achieved either 50 percent or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or a percentage of the female computer science exam takers meeting or exceeding that of the school’s female population during the 2021-2022 school year. In 2022, GHHS was one of 209 recognized in the category of AP Computer Science. 

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition, and want to congratulate our students and their teachers on this step towards equity in computer science education,” Assistant Superintendent Dan Gregory said. 

“We are honored that our school earned this distinction,” GHHS Principal Michele Suiter said. “We look forward to seeing these young women and other future Tides succeed in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) careers.” 

AP Computer Science A (CSA) students learn to design and implement computer programs that solve problems relevant to today’s society. AP CSA, which debuted as a course in 1988, continues to grow and female participation has increased 39 percent since 2017, according to College Board. 

“We are honored that our school earned this distinction. We look forward to seeing these young women and other future Tides succeed in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) careers.” GHHS Principal Michele Suiter

Providing female students with access to computer science courses is critical to ensuring gender parity in the industry’s high-paying jobs and to drive innovation, creativity, and representation. The median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $97,430 in May 2021, according to College Board. However, women represent just 24 percent of the five million people in computing occupations. 

According to a 2014 study of women who major in computer science from Google, 54 percent of female computer science majors took AP CSA in high school. These findings highlight the importance of STEM courses in the secondary education level that achieve gender parity.

Congratulations Gig Harbor High School staff and students!