Smithfield Public Schools was awarded an Innovation and Equity Grant in the summer of 2018 in the amount of $122,165 to address the gender equity gap in the computer science program at Smithfield High School. At the onset of the grant, only 9% of the students enrolled in computer science courses were female.
With the help of this grant, the district has accomplished the following:
increased the number of students exposed to block coding at the middle school level
increased the percentage of females enrolled in computer science courses (see below)
renovated the middle and high school computer labs inclusive of new furniture, technology, and equipment
redesigned the middle school computer science curriculum
The district is currently on track to close the equity gap that exists in computer science in Smithfield. Thank you to our computer science educators Michael Deslauriers, David Martin, and Mark Sylvestre for their collaboration on this grant.
Percentage of Females Enrolled in Computer Science in Smithfield
Course | 2017-18 School Year | 2019-20 School Year |
Computer Science 7 | 32% | 40% |
Computer Science 8 | 31% | 40% |
Digital Design Grade 8 | 34% | 56% |
High School Computer Science Enrollment | 9% | 27% |