MFS Earns AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for Second Year in a Row
Pictured: Some of the Upper School students from 2024-25 AP Computer Science Principles (taught by Justin Vecchio, left) and AP Computer Science A (taught by Michael Omillian, right) courses.
For the second year in a row, and for the fourth time in six years, Moorestown Friends School has earned the College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science A. The award recognizes schools for their efforts to improve female representation and expand young women’s access to computer science coursework.
To qualify for this award, schools must either reach 50% or higher female representation in one of or both AP computer science courses, or whose percentage of female examinees met or exceeded that of the school’s female population. Of the 1,153 schools recognized during the 2023–24 school year, MFS is the only independent school in the South Jersey and Philadelphia regions to receive this award.
“This is once again a wonderful moment of recognition for our female AP computer science students,” said Upper School Director Noah Rachlin. “In the United States, only about 20% of the undergraduate degrees in computer science are awarded to women. It’s a testament to our community and culture that the computer science program at MFS embraces a more inclusive path forward that so many female students are taking advantage of these courses in the Upper School.”
AP Computer Science A (CSA) students learn to design and implement computer programs that solve problems relevant to today’s society. AP Computer Science A, which first debuted in 1988, continues to grow and female participation has increased 69% since 2017, to 24,147 women. Overall AP computer science course participation has increased 147% since 2017, broadening STEM career opportunities for more students.
“My mom works in computer science, which influenced me to take this class,” said AP Computer Science Principles student Caitlin Bailey ’25. “It’s really interesting to learn about the types of programs she and her coworkers use every day in real life.”
“I’m going into biomedical engineering, so if I ever need to code a prosthetic or make a machine, it’s cool to know how that code actually works,” said AP Computer Science A student Dylan Neff ’25.
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 $100,530 in May 2021. However, women represent just 24% of the five million people in computing occupations.
College Board research about AP CSP finds AP CSP students are nearly twice as likely to enroll in AP CSA, and that for most students, AP CSP serves as a stepping stone to other advanced AP STEM coursework.
These findings highlight the importance of schools nationwide achieving gender parity in AP computer science classrooms. Female students remain underrepresented in high school computer science classes, accounting for just 34% of AP Computer Science Principles participants and 26% of AP Computer Science A participants. Currently, 57.5% of high schools teach foundational computer science. The 1,127 schools that receive this year’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award serve as inspirations and models for all U.S. high schools.