Preparing Students To Be Future Tech Leaders in Milwaukee

Preparing Students To Be Future Tech Leaders in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Excellence Charter School (MXCS) Case Study

Milwaukee Excellence Charter School (MXCS) is a 6–12th grade school founded in 2015 serving 543 students, of which over 95% are African-American. They have big computer science goals for their students: to have 80% of 10th graders pass the AP CSP exam and continue on in the following year to take the AP CS A exam. We spoke with MXCS administrators Rodney Lynk, Danielle Borja, and MXCS HS Principal Lita Mallett, to learn more about their ambitious computer science program goals.

“CodeHS has been able to support our goals because it has made planning and pacing seamless and effortless especially to non-computer science background educators. CodeHS takes a lot of the preparation work from educators, making it easier to focus on understanding and practicing the content. It is also helpful that CodeHS is aligned to AP computer science standards so our students are able to pass the AP exam.”

Inspiring MXCS Students in Computer Science Paths

Along with using CodeHS, having computer science as a requirement and getting students early exposure has been key to working towards their goals. District administrators Danielle and Rodney shared with us that students weren’t exactly interested in the AP exams at first, but once they found out that scores would be sent to universities and the positive impact it could have on their future, minds were changed. MXCS has fostered an environment where middle school students have a goal oriented-mindset from early on that they are working towards the AP CS exams. Instilling the mentality that computer science is a language they should be fluent in sets their students on a motivated AP exam path.

“We inspire MXCS students by making sure they are able to see themselves in computer science involved careers in the city of Milwaukee. For example, Principal Lita Mallett, an individual who majored in computer science, has invited speakers and partners like Milky Way Tech Hub, Rockwell, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Stemboard, GE Healthcare, National Center for Women & Technology, and Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), to speak to our students. We are partnering with MATC to provide access to our high schoolers to begin taking college courses and we continue to look for partnerships and opportunities that give high school students first hand experiences in computer science related careers.”

MXCS students like Aniyah McDonald are inspired and passionate about coding from a young age… “I was only in the 5th grade when I was trying to imitate other people’s codes and in my free-time would try to make my own game”. Aniyah continues to further her computing abilities and was a 2021 NCWIT Wisconsin award winner for AiC (Aspirations in Computing)!

Looking Ahead

With strong support from the district and community, MXCS has plans to further their computer science and STEM programs to provide the best opportunities for their students, right in Milwaukee. They’ve invested in robotics programs with the intention to be recognized as national competitors… “We will be a force to reckon with,” say MXCS Administrators.

As a result of their students’ passing rates in AP CS A, confidence is high that graduates will have the necessary CS skills to expand their knowledge post-high school and pursue a variety of computer science career opportunities.

“We recognize that computer science is in all careers such as biotechnology, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and even business data analysts. Therefore we want to make sure our students’ dreams are not deferred by giving them the opportunities and access to explore career options through internships, workshops, and courses.”

Milwaukee Excellence Charter School is doing a wonderful job advocating the importance of computer science to provide the best opportunities for their students. They are setting their students on a path to be “future tech leaders ahead of the curve. We want to thank CodeHS for making it easier for all teachers to access computer science.”