The Altamont School has earned the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science Principles (CSP). Award contenders 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.In a statement announcing the honor, the College Board noted that although female students remain underrepresented in computer science classes nationally, the schools that earned this year’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award “serve as inspiration and are models for all U.S. high schools.”According to College Board research, female students who take AP Computer Science Principles in high school are more than five times as likely to major in computer science in college, compared to female students of similar background and academic preparation who didn’t take AP CSP. Still, U.S. Department of Labor data reveals that women represent just 26.9% of the 6.5 million people employed in computer and mathematical occupations.Altamont computer science teacher Joseph McKinley notes the irony of that underrepresentation. “Programming is a field pioneered by women and taken over by men,” he says. “It is important to have young women feel there is a place for them in computer science.”Many other students are exploring the field, too. McKinley has seen continued growth in Altamont’s program over the last five years. “Computer science is an amazing opportunity for students with all interests and skills, and I am excited to have the ability to expand access to this knowledge for Altamont students.” – contributed by Sean Flynt