Life High School Waxahachie (LHSW) was recognized as a member of the inaugural Accelerating Women’s Success and Mastery (AWSM) in Computer Science Honor Roll at the 2022 WeTeach_CS Summit. Life High School Waxahachie achieved this award because young women made up at least 50% of computer science (CS) course enrollment in the 2020-2021 school year. The statewide average is just 27%.
This limited exposure to computer science for young women in high school also contributes to underrepresentation in the workforce. In the United States, just 27% of all computing jobs are held by women. Yet, in Texas alone, there are almost 65,000 open computing jobs available with an average salary of $94,779.
“We are proud of our computer science program and the level of participation by our young ladies. Taking a Computer Science class allows students to learn, and grow and opens opportunities for a future in technology. We want to continue to provide these classes for students to be ready for an industry that is always changing,“ says Life High School Waxahachie Principal Candace Johnson
“TACC is proud to recognize Life High School Waxahachie as an inaugural member of the AWSM in CS Honor Roll,” said Carol Fletcher, director of Expanding Pathways in Computing at The University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Advanced Computing Center. “Thanks to your efforts, LHSW is one of less than 100 secondary schools in the state to reach gender parity in CS. Thank you for your ‘awesome’ leadership and for bringing these opportunities to the young women in your community.”
AWSM in CS is a National Science Foundation-funded project focused on increasing access and participation of young women in computing courses.
To see the full list of AWSM in CS Honor Roll schools, click here.
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Life School is a tuition-free, public charter school with campuses in Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Mountain Creek, Red Oak, Oak Cliff and Waxahachie, TX. Life School develops leaders with life skills through strong academics, character training, and partnerships with parents and the community. Its mission is accomplished in part through the financial support of donors who provide scholarships and embrace making students ready to learn, ready to lead and ready for life.
Parents who are interested in enrollment can visit lifeschool.net/learn-about-life. Partners who would like to support Life School financially can give online at lifeschool.net/give.
