High School Computer Science Participation: A 6-Year Enrollment Study

High-quality computer science (CS) instruction is essential for preparing students to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world. This research brief presents findings from a six-year longitudinal study of CS enrollments in seven public high schools from the 2018-2019 through the 2023-2024 academic years, drawing on the administrative data of over 15,000 students. Results show that overall enrollment in CS courses rose modestly from 10% to 15% between the 2018-2019 and 2022-2023 school years. Enrollment declined to 13% in 2023-2024, though the cause and persistence of this trend remains unknown. Additional analyses differentiate foundational and advanced CS courses as well as examine participation by sex and race, offering additional insight. As CS, artificial intelligence, and related fields become more important across our society, they also become a key component of a robust K-12 education. Analyzing and understanding these trends in CS enrollments is crucial to inform policy and instruction that encourage students to participate and succeed in CS; this research brief presents one such analysis.