On May 12th, Dorsey High School’s Math Science Technology and Engineering Magnet students successfully participated in the College Board’s Computer Science Principles pilot class. Sophomore and junior magnet students had the history making opportunity to take the pilot exam before the official AP Computer Science Principles Course and Exam is released for the 2016-2017 school year. Mrs. Johonna Gay, a dedicated mathematics and computer science teacher, prepared the STEM magnet students for this game changing endeavor.
Championed by Ms. Daphne Bradford, White House Connected Educator and Mother Of Many founder/CEO, Dorsey High School became the only Los Angeles Unified School District School to participate in the College Board’s pilot Computer Science Principles course and exam. The program is designed to encourage a broader participation of historically underrepresented African American, Hispanic and females to engage in the study of computer science and other STEM fields.
Dr. Reginald Sample, Dorsey High School principal, forged a partnership with Bradford, who specializes in STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art Math) focused curriculum, teacher professional development, and AP computer Science Pathway design. This innovative partnership laid the foundation for Dorsey’s Math Science Technology and Engineering Magnet to become the home of South L.A.’s first AP Computer Science pathway. The pathway is supported by Mother Of Many partners: City Council President Herb Wesson, Jr., Google, Microsoft, Mayor Eric Garcetti and The California Endowment.
“It’s very rare for African American and Hispanic students in South Los Angeles to participate in the decision making process when it comes to the College Board Advanced Placement exams. These students have a seat at the table of their future. This is a huge accomplishment for Dorsey High School, LAUSD and the community,” stated Bradford.
The results of the pilot test will provide information to determine the final questions for the forthcoming AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) Exam. The AP Computer Science Principles course is designed to be equivalent to a first-semester introductory college computing course. In this course, students will develop computational thinking vital for success across all disciplines, such as using computational tools to analyze and study data and working with large data sets to analyze, visualize, and draw conclusions from trends. The course is unique in its focus on fostering student creativity.
