Recognized for Improving Female Representation in AP Computer Science Principles

[Williston Park, NY]─Schechter School of Long Island has earned the College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science Principles (CSP), for the second consecutive year. Schools honored with an AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award have expanded access to AP computer science courses for female students in their communities. 

During the 2023-24 school year, 1,153 institutions achieved an AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for CSA, CSP or both courses. Award contenders must either have reached 50% or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or have achieved a percentage of female computer science exam takers that meets or exceeds that of the school’s female population. Schechter School of Long Island was one of only 847 recognized for improving female representation in AP CSP.

“I am thrilled that we won this award for a second consecutive year. Not only are we convincing a more diverse group to give Computer Science a try, but we are also retaining that diversity in the highest levels of Computer Science offered here at Schechter,” said Pablo Garcia, Schechter’s Mathematics & Computer Science Chair. “Our Senior-level course has a perfect 50% split of boys and girls this year, which is a dramatic improvement from how computer science electives looked ten years ago.”  

“Computer science is a way for me to solve problems and build things that make a real impact,” said Shir Levenson, SSLI ‘26). “Receiving an award for our hard work is a beautiful way to be recognized and is a true motivation to keep striving for excellence. I am honored to be a part of a growing community of women in tech who are shaping the future.”

AP Computer Science Principles, which first launched in the 2016-17 school year, continues to grow. In 2024:  
175,261 students took the AP CSP Exam—almost 4 times the number of exam takers in the course’s first year.
60,259 female students took the AP CSP Exam, approximately 4 1/2 times the number who tested in 2017. 
Overall AP computer science course participation has increased 161% since 2017, which has broadened STEM career opportunities for more students.

Providing young women with access to computer science courses is necessary to ensure gender equity in the industry’s high-paying jobs and to drive innovation, creativity, and representation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for computer and mathematical occupations was $104,200 in 2023. However, women represent just 26.9% of the 6.5 million people employed in the same fields.

“Computer science is the source code of our economy and much of the career landscape,” said Trevor Packer, head of the AP Program. “In the seven years since we began the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award, it’s been heartening to see schools like Schechter School of Long Island welcome so many more young women into this vital field.”

That’s why College Board research about AP CSP is so encouraging. According to the data, female students who take AP CSP in high school are more than five times as likely to major in computer science in college, compared to female students of similar background and academic preparation who didn’t take AP CSP.  The study also finds AP Computer Science Principles students are nearly twice as likely to enroll in AP Computer Science A (CSA), and that for most students, AP CSP serves as a stepping stone to other advanced AP STEM coursework.

These findings highlight the importance of schools nationwide achieving gender equity in AP computer science classrooms. Overall, female students remain underrepresented in computer science classes. They account for just 34% of AP CSP participants and 26% of AP CSA participants. The 1,153 schools that receive this year’s AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award serve as inspiration and are models for all U.S. high schools. 

“Computer science is a field that shapes the world and drives innovation,” said Natalie Khaimov, SSLI ‘26. “It offers endless opportunities to solve real-world problems with creativity and critical thinking. For me, being part of this diverse and dynamic field is not only empowering but essential to ensuring that technology is inclusive.” - February 2025
 

Over winter break, I had the opportunity to travel to Israel on a mission trip with United Synagogue Youth (USY). The trip was aptly called Chidush, which means renewal. The purposes of the trip were to see firsthand how Israel has been affected and has since adapted to the atrocities of October 7 and for us to bear witness to the repercussions of that devastating day. I, along with thirteen other teenagers from around the United States, embarked on a one week journey where we volunteered and learned about how Israel, as a whole, has changed since the war began. The trip was filled with new experiences, and the juxtaposition of seeing the changes in the country alongside the Israel that we know and love so much made the trip even more meaningful.  I am grateful to USY for giving me this extraordinary opportunity. 

Every day, we volunteered at and learned about different organizations in Israel. Many of these organizations are dedicated to helping those who have been affected by the war or soldiers who are currently fighting in the war. The food organizations that we volunteered at included Pantry Packers, where we packed around 150 non-perishable meals, Citrus and Salt, where we prepared and cooked meals for soldiers, and Shuva Ahim, an organization that was started by three brothers at the entrance of Kibbutz Shuva as a place for soldiers and families to come enjoy a home-cooked meal. We also picked grapefruit that were brought to a factory to be made into grapefruit juice. This was so much fun. The owner of the grapefruit farm was about to return to active duty in the IDF and was so grateful for our help that day.  In addition to the food-related organizations, we also volunteered at a sports center for the disabled, where we played wheelchair basketball, and Save A Child’s Heart. Volunteering at Save A Child’s Heart was one of the most meaningful aspects of the trip. This organization is dedicated to bringing children from underdeveloped countries, such as Ethiopia and Rwanda, to Israel for heart surgery. All of the children are so resilient, and my group had the opportunity to paint and dance with them. Even though we did not speak the same language as the kids, we communicated by playing, which is something that I have never experienced before. 

An important aspect of the mission trip was visiting the Gaza Envelope, specifically the places that Hamas directly attacked on October 7. We visited Sederot and learned the heartbreaking story of the Swissa family, who tried to escape. Both parents were killed, but the young children were saved and survived. We also visited the site of the police station, which was burned down and destroyed. The site has become a memorial which includes ruins of the police station and the names of all of the residents who were murdered. After Sederot, we made our way to the site of the Nova Festival. On our way to the site, we drove down Road 232, which is known as the “Road of Death,” as that is the road where all the Kibbutzim were attacked, some of which include Be’eri, Nakhal Oz, and Kfar Aza. On our drive to Nova, it started pouring rain, but right when we pulled up to the site of the festival, the rain stopped and a beautiful rainbow appeared. Seeing that rainbow made me realize that G-d was with us and keeping us safe on our journey. 

The Nova site includes memorials for all of those who were murdered at the festival and those who were taken hostage from the festival. We had the opportunity to walk around and see all of the precious souls who were taken from us too soon. It was heartbreaking. We then conducted a ceremony and placed candles by some of those killed. My friends and I decided that we wanted to put a candle near the memorial of Hersh Goldberg-Polin z”l, as he was an American-Israeli who was taken hostage and killed in captivity. Following the lighting of his candle, Hersh’s dad and two sisters walked over to his picture. When I realized they were standing only a few feet away from me, my heart skipped a beat, and their presence made the visit so much more meaningful. I did not just see his dad at Nova; I saw both Jon and Rachel at a shul in Jerusalem on Shabbat morning. We had our choice of many shuls to daven at that morning and had no idea that we had randomly chosen the one that they would be at. Being in Israel for the sole reason of bearing witness to the October 7 atrocities made sharing Shabbat in the same shul as them a very powerful experience for me. Since we were only in Israel for one week, I did not think that I would see them even once, let alone twice. After visiting Nova, we went to the bomb shelter that Hersh was taken from. The bomb shelter has turned into a memorial for those killed and taken hostage. There are no words to describe the feeling of being inside it and knowing what happened there. 

On our last day in Israel, we visited the ANU Museum. That morning, I had read on the BringOmerHome WhatsApp chat that the Neutra family was going to be at a Chanukiah lighting ceremony for the eighth night at the museum at the exact time that my group was going to be there. Omer z”l was a member of USY and served on the New York Regional board. I knew how important it would be for the group to attend the candle lighting, so I asked the group leaders if we would be able to go, and of course, they said yes. Before the lighting, I had the opportunity to go over to the Orna and speak to her, which made the event even more meaningful. 

From walking through the Old City to the Kotel on Shabbat evening and seeing the Chanukiot all lit up in the windows to volunteering, shopping at the Shuk, and meeting a friend who is on a gap year, I had such a powerful experience on this trip. I am eternally grateful for USY for giving me the opportunity to go on Chidush. Although there were emotionally difficult days, Chidush showed me how life has continued and that the Jewish nation is so connected and resilient. After surviving the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust, the nation has come together and is stronger than ever. I know this experience will stay with me forever, and I can not wait to return in May on the Schechter Senior trip.  - January 2025

Schechter News Live! Our Middle School students hosted an incredible talk show in tefillah, featuring a special guest... Rabbi Shimshon ben Ray v'Rachel, the Rashbarr! Rabbi Shimshon, played by our Madrich Ruach/12th Grader, Samson Mildron, shared deep insights into Asara B'Tevet, the Fast Day coming up this Friday. 

Did you know? The 10th of Tevet marks the beginning of the tragic chain of events that led to the destruction of the Temple on Tisha B'Av. It all began with the siege of Jerusalem in 586 BCE by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Bavel. Though the fast is short, it’s significant — a day of reflection and remembrance. 

In modern Israel, it's also observed as a Yahrzeit for all those whose actual Yahrzeit we do not know. This Friday, we will commemorate this important day with a fast day Shacharit and Torah reading. 

Our Lower School Robotics team had a blast at the CIJE Robotics Competition! Using the VEX-Go robots they built themselves, our students joined forces with other schools, collaborating and competing for shared points. Their teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills shined through the event! We're so proud of how they came together and represented our school with energy and enthusiasm. 

Our second Tomim Hashnayim (Two are Better) program of the year was a hit! The eighth grade Hebrew classes enjoyed visiting the first grade to teach the students about the miracle of Hanukkah and help them decorate beautiful chanukiyot. There was so much joy in the air as the students paired up, shared laughs, and sang their favorite Hanukkah songs together. 

Eleventh grade Rabbinics students and Morah Shelly’s 3A class kicked off the first Tovim HaShnayim joyful, Jewish, shared experience! “Tovim Hashnayim” (two are better) is an initiative in which students share joyful Jewish learning across grade levels. The classes shared what they have learned about Sukkot, especially the meaning of its name “Z’man Simchateinu” (the season of our rejoicing). Then they created artwork together about what makes them feel joy!
 

AP Psychology students learned about the nervous system by making candy neurons! Each student brought in a variety of different shapes of candy to represent a neuron’s various parts and functions. After they sent in a photo of their work, they had fun eating their creation!

The fifth-graders held a publishing party to celebrate their culminating piece of narrative fiction writing. Over two months, students developed their skills of telling a story bit-by-bit, using description, dialogue and drama, while incorporating a clear beginning, middle and end. In groups of four, students read their final work to fourth-grade students who are currently midway through their own narrative writing unit. Fourth-grade students practiced the skills of giving feedback using prompting phrases such as "I like when you ..." and "It was easy for me to picture ____ because ____."
 

Members of the SSLI Israel Club hosted a pop-up catering event for Shabbat this week! All proceeds will go to a Dedication Fund in honor of Omer Neutra z"l, who was an active member and leader of this club during his time at Schechter.

Lower School Broadway students dazzled family and friends with their talent and creativity in their original play, Pele Paz! Written by the cast, this inspiring production of acting and singing celebrated the students’ Jewish faith and connection to the Land of Israel. The evening culminated in a joyous sing-along of Chanukah songs followed by delicious sufganiyot to kickstart the holiday spirit!

Congratulations to Schechter Robotics for finishing qualifiers in fifth place out of 33 teams in the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE) Robotics High School Competition! This mid year competition is a crucial opportunity for our robotics teams to put their robots to the test. But more importantly, it is an opportunity for them to meet with other teams and exchange ideas for how to approach this year's challenges.