The College Board has awarded Saugus High School with an Advanced Placement Computer Science Female Diversity Award.

The certificate says that Saugus High achieved the award “for expanding access to AP computer science and improving gender representation in computer science.” 

Superintendent Michael Hashem announced the award at a recent Saugus School Committee meeting.

“They also specifically acknowledged our teacher Mr. Derek Serino for his work with the course and having the female success in that program,” Hashem said. “That’s a program that has really started to take off.”

In a letter to the Saugus Public Schools community, Saugus Middle/High School Principal Brendon Sullivan thanked the district’s computer science, digital literacy, and STEM teachers.

“From elementary through high school, we have committed educators who spark the love and interest in computer science among our students,” Sullivan wrote. “And, of course, we are tremendously proud of our female AP Computer Science students who are also recognized by this award.”

Trevor Packer, the head of the College Board’s AP program, wrote in a letter to Sullivan that Saugus High School was one of 834 institutions to be recognized in the 2022-23 school year for its work to improve gender representation for AP Computer Science Principles.

He wrote that research has demonstrated that female students who take AP Computer Science are more likely to major in the field in college when compared to female students with similar backgrounds and levels of academic preparation who do not take it.

“Your leadership in creating more equitable access to computer science courses is helping prepare more young women for the high-paying, in-demand jobs of the future, and giving them the opportunity to solve some of society’s greatest challenges,” Packer wrote.