The Exploring Computer Science Course, Attendance and Math Achievement

Abstract

Exploring Computer Science (ECS) is a high school curriculum that was designed to be more inclusive and engaging for all students, especially women and students of color who have typically been under-represented in the discipline. The course uses an inquiry-based approach that is expected to improve students' problem solving skills. Students who enrolled in ECS at ten high schools in San Jose, California were monitored over a three-year period to investigate possible relationships between participation in ECS, attendance rates, and scores on standardized math tests. Results show a statistically significant difference between ECS participants and their peers in both areas for two of three project years. Additional study is recommended to explore whether there is a causal relationship.