Mercy Academy is proud to be a recipient of the College Board AP Computer Science Femals Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science Principles (CSP). This honor highlights Mercy's commitment to expanding access to computer science courses for our students, empowering them to thrive in a vital and rapidly growing field.
To be recognized for the award, schools 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.
"We're honored that Mercy Academy has earned this distinction, which reflects our commitment to providing young women with exceptional opportunities in STEM education," said Mercy Academy Principal Dr. Cynthia Smith-Ough. "As an all-girls school, we place a strong emphasis on empowering our students in STEM fields, and we look forward to seeing these talented young women excel in computer science education, and if they are passionate about the subject, pursue successful careers in this vital industry."
Since its launch in 2016, AP Computer Science Principles has seen remarkable growth. In 2024, over 175,000 students took the AP CSP exam, including more than 60,000 female students - an increase of 4.5 times compared to 2017, according to information from the College Board. Despite this progress, women remain underrepresented in computer science, making up only 26.9% of the workforce in computer and mathematical occupations, which have a median annual salary of $104,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Benefits of AP CSP extend far beyond the classroom. According to information from the College Board, female students who take AP CSP are more than five times as likely to major in computer science in college and nearly twice as likely to enroll in advanced STEM coursework. Mercy Academy's efforts to close the gender gap in computer science education contribute to broader opportunities for young women ensuring they can pursue high-paying, innovative careers in STEM.
To learn about STEM education at Mercy Academy, the nation's first all-girls STEM-Certified school, click here.