We have had great success attracting and retaining girls in computer science since switching our introductory course to teachScheme. After the one semester of teachScheme, we start AP Comp Sci with about 5 weeks of Scheme to get through lists and trees, then we switch to C++.
This year 7 of the 16 advanced placement students are female and those 7 make up the strength of the class. From previous experience I would predict that all 7 will score 5 on the AP exam. I am very encouraged about the number of girls as well as minority students. Previously we seldom had more than 10% to 15% females in Advanced Placement Computer science.
Dean Morse
Mathematics & Computer Science
West High School, 30 Ash St. , Madison, WI 53726
(608) 204-3350
dmorse@madison.k12.wi.us