Immaculate Heart Academy has earned the 2023 College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science A (CSA). Congratulations to Mrs. Theresa Seymour Dolan ’95 P’26 for achieving this honor once again! IHA also received this award in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Schools honored with the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award are recognized for having expanded girls’ access to AP computer science courses. More than 1,100 institutions were recognized for their work toward equal gender representation and in 2023, IHA was one of 225 recognized nationally in the category of AP Computer Science A.

Mrs. Dolan said Immaculate Heart Academy is honored by this recognition. “As a teacher, I could not be prouder of the commitment of our students in their study of AP Computer Science.” She continued, “I look forward to seeing our young women pursue their passions and achieve success as computer science and STEM professionals.”

The winners represent a broad range of high schools from across the country and around the world. According to Trevor Packer, Head of the AP Program, “Computer science is the source code of our economy and much of the career landscape. In the six years since we began the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, it’s been heartening to see schools like IHA welcome so many more young women into this vital field.”

AP CSA students learn to design and implement computer programs that solve problems relevant to today’s society. AP Computer Science A, which first debuted in 1988, continues to grow and female participation has increased 69% since 2017, to 24,147 women. Overall, AP computer science course participation has increased 147% since 2017, broadening STEM career opportunities for more students.

As a Computer Science Female Diversity Award winner, IHA is recognized as an inspiration and model for all U.S. high schools.