Background
Lakewood High School was rated "excellent" by the State in its annual educational report card. This rural agricultural/industrial community is middle to high income, and all students have computers at home. The school's population of 1,110 students is diverse, about 51% are African-American, and 49% are Caucasian. There is a very small percentage of students from other ethnic/racial backgrounds. South Carolina has statewide computer competency requirements for graduation. Sumter School District Two, where Lakewood is located, starts preparation in the 6th grade when all students are required to take keyboarding. By the 8th grade students, are enrolled in an Introduction to Computer course that introduces them to computer applications, and they develop a career plan with the help of a guidance counselor. In 9th grade, all students decide between a business education or computer technology track and career exploration is incorporated into both. Those choosing a technology track are required to take both networking and computer programming.

The Numbers
Sumter's first Academy class ended in May 2000, and 54% of the students were female with an 86% completion rate at the end of the 4th semester. All of the students who completed went on to 4-year universities. The second Academy class ended in May 2001, and 50% of the students were female with an 89% completion rate. All but three of the students who completed went on to 4-year universities; three went onto technical colleges. Many of the student's college majors were computer related - ranging from computer engineering and computer design to computer electronics and programming. Sumter's Academy students are also racially diverse - evenly split between Caucasian and African-American students; they reflect the school's diversity.

How did Lakewood High School Networking Academy program successfully recruit and retain high school girls into Information Technology (IT) classes in this rural community?

Recruitment
Ms. Floyd is the Academy's only instructor, and as an African-American female, is a role model for her students which assists her with recruiting females and African-Americans. Her primary recruitment strategy is issuing personal invitations to students who are in the Computer Technology I & II classes that she teaches and showing them around the Academy lab. Ms. Floyd also thinks that the school district's computer technicians might have an influence on the high percentage of female students--one of whom is female.

Prerequisites
At first glance Lakewood High School's Academy prerequisites seem extensive, but most students who have chosen the computer technology track in 9th grade have taken these courses by the time they reach 11th grade. The prerequisites are:

• Computer Technology I & II
• Computer Programming
• Computer Science
• Algebra I & II
• A 3.0 GPA must be maintained

Success in the Classroom

"The female students envision themselves as successful and financially independent when they graduate; they see the Cisco Networking Academy Program as an avenue for meeting their goals." -Gwendolyn Floyd Director/Instructor

Sumter's strong emphasis on computer competency, starting in the 6th grade, levels the playing field for students, so that ALL students - regardless of gender and race - are skilled in computer use by high school. Because computer courses and mastering computer competencies are mandatory and state imposed in South Carolina, no student enters an Academy program without a strong computer background. Counselors work closely with the students to ensure they enroll in the course sequencing needed. Ms. Floyd says that her female students have no reticence in the Academy lab; they jump right in and use the equipment. They are comfortable with the environment and are confident and focused.

Contact
Gwendolyn Floyd
Director/Instructor
Lakewood High School
350 Old Manning Road
Sumter, South Carolina 29150
Gfloyd@scsd2.k12.ksc.us
803-506-2700 ext. 1508

School Web site
http://www.myschoolonline.com (Search search on South Carolina, Sumter, Lakewood High)