Ma’ayanot has been awarded the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for promoting female representation in AP Computer Science Principles. This honor reflects the College Board’s commitment to expand girls’ access to AP computer science courses.

Ma’ayanot Head of School CB Neugroschl shared that this is just one way that Ma’ayanot supports female scholarship in and success in traditionally male dominated fields: “We’re proud that our school promotes and celebrates female representation in these fields and we look forward to seeing these young women pursue and achieve success in computer science education and careers.”

“By encouraging young women to study advanced computer science coursework, Ma’ayanot is closing the gap in computer science education and empowering young women to access the opportunities available in STEAM career fields,” says Stefanie Sanford, College Board chief of Global Policy and External Relations. “Computer science is the foundation of many 21st-century career options, and young women deserve equal opportunities to pursue computer science education and drive technological innovation.”

Providing female students with access to computer science courses is critical to ensuring gender parity in the industry’s high-paying jobs and to driving innovation, creativity and representation. That’s why College Board research about AP Computer Science Principles is so encouraging. According to the College Board, 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 did not take the course, and for most students, AP Computer Science Principles serves as a stepping stone to other advanced and AP STEAM coursework.