Computer science access and equity in California
California is falling behind in computer science education and there are shocking statistics to prove it.
Despite the increasing importance of computer science education, data shows that almost ⅔ of California high schools lack any computer science courses, preventing 61% of high school students from taking the courses needed to succeed in college and career.
Low-income students, students of color, girls, and students who live in rural areas are much less likely to have access to CS courses than their peers. Even when courses are available, too few students are enrolled in these critical courses--just 3% of the 1.9 million high school students in California.
We need to take bold action to ensure that all California students have access to a rigorous computer science education to prepare them for their future.
The Current State
Computer science courses are only taught in 39% of California’s high schools, and almost ⅔ of California high schools lack any computer science courses.
Advanced Placement (AP) computer science courses are taught in only 14% of California high schools.
Low-income schools are 4x less likely to offer AP computer science courses and rural schools are 7x less likely to offer AP CS.
Female students comprise 50% of California’s high school population, but less than 30% of students enrolled in CS courses.
60% of California students are Black, Latinx or Native American/Alaskan Native. Yet, they represent just 16% of those taking AP classes in CS.
Just 497 Black students in California took an AP CS course in 2018, and only 161 were Black girls.
While 7 in 10 students in California receive a passing score on AP computer science exams, only 40% of Latinx and 39% of Black students pass the test.
The Future Opportunity
California currently leads the nation in the number of technology workers, the growth in new computing jobs, and in venture capital investment.
Nearly ¼ of the country’s economic output is produced by high-tech industries, currently employing 17 million workers; and computing related occupations are the fastest-growing group, projected to produce nearly 1 million job openings over the next 10 years.
Software engineers make nearly twice as much as the average wage in California (over $100k per year, on average).
Is there equitable computer science education in your area?
Find out about computer science access in your community by clicking on your county, or entering your district or school below.
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