Computer Science For All

The Friday Institute partners with educational leaders and policy makers from the school to national level to create opportunities for ALL students in North Carolina to explore Computer Science.

Graphic for the NC Computer Science Professional Development program. FREE educator workshops of structured, collaborative and focused learning aligned to middle and high school curriculum and courses (stipend available). Features multiple regional workshops available across NC. Shows image of female educator working with a high school student in a computer lab full of other students. Registration is open. Go to go.ncsu.edu/nccs

Why Computer Science?

 

Computer science opens more doors for students than any other discipline in today’s world. Learning even the basics will help students in virtually any career — from architecture to zoology.

Just as we teach students how to dissect a frog or how electricity works, it’s important for every 21st century student to have a chance to design an app or an algorithm or learn how the Internet works.

The CS4NC Computing Education Summit held in 2017 examined CS in North Carolina and identified needs, barriers, and opportunities.

Read the North Carolina Preliminary Landscape Report.

 

 

Parent and Student Demand

  • A 2015 Gallup poll found that 9 out of 10 parents in NC want schools to teach computer science so our children grow up not just using technology but learning how to create it. In fact, among low-income families, the majority of parents and teachers believe that computer science should be required for students to learn!
  • A survey of high school students shows that computer science ranks among students’ favorite subjects, behind only graphic design and performing arts.

91% of parents want their kids to learn CS but only 7% of principals believe there is enough demand

 

Career Opportunities

  • In North Carolina, there are currently over 18,000 open computing jobs, but only:

18%

of schools in NC teach AP Computer Science

1,425

students in NC took the AP exam in 2016

1,200

students graduated with a computer science degree in NC in 2016

Selected Projects