Chancellor Carranza Announces 72 Percent Increase In Students Taking Computer Science Since Launch Of Computer Science For All
Record number of students received Computer Science education Record number of teachers trained through Computer Science for All initiative
NEW YORK – Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza today announced that more than 160,000 students received Computer Science (CS) education in the 2018-19 school year, a record high and a 72 percent increase in students receiving CS education since the Computer Science for All launch. To date, 1,900 teachers across 800 schools in all five boroughs have been trained in CS through Computer Science for All, which is on track to bring computer science education to every elementary, middle, and high school by 2025
New York City public schools are once again participating in Computer Science Education Week [Dec. 9-15], a global effort encouraging Computer Science education. A record 410 New York City schools across all grade-bands and in every borough are participating in Computer Science Education Week this year.
“Where you live shouldn’t determine whether your child has access to the technology and skills to succeed in the 21st century,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Computer Science for All is working – over 160,000 students participated last year and we will reach all 1.1 million students by 2025. The face of the future is New York City public school students and we’re going to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed.”
“Computer Science for All means a record number of students are learning to code, program, design, use new technologies, and are set up to succeed in a 21st century world,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “During Computer Science Education Week, we celebrate the progress we have made, acknowledge the hard working teachers who make this a reality, and double down on our commitment to bringing computer science education to every one of our schools by 2025.”
"New York City's Computer Science for All initiative leads the nation in ensuring every student receives the skills they need to thrive in our tech-driven future,” said Fred Wilson, Founder of New York City Foundation for Computer Science and Partner at Union Square Ventures. “The enthusiasm and generosity of the private sector for this public-private partnership makes possible this transformative impact on our students.”
In the first two years of the Computer Science for All initiative, the number of New York City students who took an AP CS exam quadrupled – with 5,190 students taking the AP exam in 2018, compared to 1,137 students in 2016. New York City also had higher percentages of female, black and Latino students take an AP CS exam in 2018 than nationwide figures – 42% female, 16% black and 20% Hispanic, compared to 28%, 5% and 15% nationwide, respectively.
The 72 percent increase in students participating in CS education is driven by specific Computer Science for All training and investments, as well as schools launching and expanding their own CS programming aligned to the initiative. The exact preliminary count of students receiving CS education in the 2018-19 school year was 163,734, up from 134,429 in 2017-18, and 93,146 in 2016-17.
This year, a record 410 schools are participating in Computer Science Education Week, with 139 schools in Brooklyn, 63 in the Bronx, 59 in Manhattan, 112 in Queens and 37 in Staten Island. Through a partnership with BetaNYC, more middle and high schools across the city will participate in the 2019-20 Hack League. Last year 122 schools participated, and this year 142 will join the Hack League, which challenges students to apply computer science concepts and practices to solve real-world challenges. Through three rounds of competition, students will use open data from their school neighborhoods, apply computer science concepts and practices to solve real-world challenges and address issues impacting their communities. The final citywide hackathon will take place in Spring 2020.
Computer Science for All is part of Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza’s Equity and Excellence for All agenda, which aims to ensure that by 2025, 80 percent of students graduate high school on time and two-thirds of graduates are college ready. Building on record-high graduation rates, record-low dropout rates, and a high-quality Pre-K seat for every New York City 4-year-old, Equity and Excellence for All is creating a path from Pre-K to college and careers for every child in every neighborhood in New York City.
“This week we celebrate Computer Science for All’s exciting progress toward our goal to reach every New York City public school student, accelerated by the generosity and commitment of our philanthropic partners,” said Julie L. Shapiro, Chief Executive Officer of the Fund for Public Schools. “This historic public-private partnership is an investment in our future by providing equitable access to 21st century learning and skills to 1.1 million students, and I'm thrilled to build on this momentum.”
“Preparing New York City students for the 21st century economy starts with a 21st century education. My office has prioritized providing STEAM educational opportunities to students throughout Brooklyn, investing unprecedented sums in computer labs, 3-D printers, and other facilities that encourage hands-on learning. The Brooklyn STEAM Center, which gives high-school students the opportunity to learn career skills in the heart of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, is a model I’m looking to duplicate in other parts of the borough and will revolutionize STEAM education in NYC. Brooklyn is rapidly becoming the Silicon Valley of the East because of forward-thanking initiatives like this, and I thank the Chancellor for his leadership in ensuring all students have the CS opportunities they deserve,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
“We are honored to partner with NYC’s Computer Science for All Initiative and ensure every participating student is connected to the future and their government,” said Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director of BetaNYC. “Building civic data and technology literacy across all communities is critical to a well-functioning democracy. Not only are we excited to grow Hack League, we enjoy engaging with students who are under-represented in today’s computer science industry. With support from subject matter experts, community stakeholders, local leaders, and elected officials, our Hack League students will influence today's leaders by building inspiring tools/ideas to improve all of our lives.”
Computer Science for All is a public-private partnership with New York City supported by a range of foundations, corporations, nonprofits, families, and individuals. Major partners include Solomon Wilson Family Foundation; Math for America (MfA); Robin Hood; Robin Hood Learning + Technology Fund; Verizon; Hutchins Family Foundation; Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.; IAC; Airbnb; the Paulson Family Foundation, and other generous family foundations. They are joined by additional partners such as Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen, & Katz; Hearst Foundations; Brian O’Kelley and Elizabeth Rovere; the Siegel Family Endowment; the Ron Conway Family; The Rudin Foundation and the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation; Howard and Wendy Lerman; Craig Newmark Philanthropies; Accenture; Arconic Foundation; ABNY Foundation; Rattner Family Foundation; and Capital One. The Fund for Public Schools, CSNYC and the Office of Strategic Partnerships at City Hall work together to develop and manage these partnerships.
Together, the Equity and Excellence for All initiatives are building a pathway to success in college and careers for all students. Our schools are starting earlier – free, full-day, high-quality education for three-year-olds and four-year-olds through 3-K for All and Pre-K for All. They are strengthening foundational skills and instruction earlier – Universal Literacy so that every student is reading on grade level by the end of 2nd grade; and Algebra for All to improve elementary- and middle-school math instruction and ensure that all 8th graders have access to algebra. They are offering students more challenging, hands-on, college and career-aligned coursework – Computer Science for All brings 21st-century computer science instruction to every school, and AP for All will give all high school students access to at least five Advanced Placement courses. Along the way, they are giving students and families additional support through College Access for All, Single Shepherd, and investment in Community Schools. Efforts to create more diverse and inclusive classrooms, including Equity & Excellence for All: Diversity in New York City Public Schools are central to this pathway.
###
Contact: Chancellor’s Press Office (212) 374-5141