OLCHS Earns College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award

OAK LAWN, IL — Oak Lawn Community High School has earned the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in advanced placement computer science A.

Schools honored with an AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded access to AP computer science courses for female students. One-hundred percent of OLCHS female students passed the AP exam and earned college credit last spring.

Providing young women with access to computer science courses is critical to ensure gender equity in the industry’s high-paying jobs and to drive innovation, creativity, and representation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for computer and mathematical occupations was $104,200 in 2023. However, women represent just 26.9 percent of the 6.5 million people in the same fields.

“I am thrilled to congratulate our female AP computer science students, our AP teachers, and our school counselors on this step-increasing access to computer science education,” OLCHS principal Dr. Lauren May said. “The work we have been doing to create opportunities for Oak Lawn students to earn early college credit through AP and dual credit programs is important. I am honored that our school earned this distinction, and we look forward to seeing our students achieve success in both computer science education and future careers.”

~ Contributed by Jennifer Jepsen, OLCHS Staff Writer