<Monroe /> COMPUTE$ END OF THE YEAR AWARDS

MCSD has a record setting certification year!

MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – Monroe County Schools students are gearing up for industry certification courses for the 2018-2019 school year.

Monroe County School District students earned a record setting number of industry certifications in Information Technology courses in 2017-2018, and this year’s students are ready to complete courses and gain certifications.  “Monroe County students earned over 800 individual industry certifications,” Superintendent Mark Porter announced.  “Students earning industry certifications in various computer science courses also received over 70,000 in cash incentives from <Monroe /> COMPUTE$ for their efforts.”  The district also had more students than ever taking and passing, AP Computer Science courses in high school.

“Students earned certifications in Microsoft Office, Adobe and the IC3 Digital Literacy program, starting as early as 5th grade,” Porter continued.  “We more than doubled last year’s certifications and had a substantial number of students in AP Computer Sciences courses. Porter noted that out of the 73 students that sat for the challenging AP Computer Science exam, 45 students passed with a score of three or better, for an overall district pass rate of 62%.  The challenging course, which was offered for the first time at Key West High School, Coral Shores High School, and Key West Collegiate Academy, introduced students to the creative aspects of programming, abstractions, algorithms, large data sets, the Internet, cybersecurity concerns, and computing impacts.  “We are very encouraged by the number of students that not only passed the AP Computer Science exam, but of all the students who chose to undertake such a rigorous course,” Superintendent Mark Porter announced.  “The success of the course, which includes a $250 incentive from <Monroe /> COMPUTE$ for those that pass, has prompted us to expand Computer Science courses across the district.”

“We are particularly proud of the success of our elementary and middle school IC3 Digital Literacy program, which yielded over 150 industry certifications for our grade 5-8 students,” explained Sibba Mira, the district’s Career and Technical Education Coordinator.  The IC3 Digital Literacy program, which is designed to promote safe and responsible internet use by young people, was so well received that the district implemented three summer school programs to meet the demand which resulted in ten additional certifications.  “Responsible internet use is a top priority,” Mira stated.  “Our goal is to have every MCSD student certified in all four components of the IC3 Digital Literacy program by the time they leave middle school.”

Coral Shores Senior, Tyler Arnold, smashed all district records, earning eight industry certifications and $1,650 in cash incentives from <Monroe /> COMPUTE$.  Arnold entered the prestigious Colorado School of the Mines this fall as an engineering major.

“Industry certifications not only add value to our students’ education, but provide critical skills necessary for them to succeed in their college and career endeavors,” Porter emphasized.  “Thanks to Key West philanthropists John Padget and Jacob Dekker’s generous donations, our students continue to be motivated to work towards these valuable certifications.” 

More details available from Sibba Mira at the office of Career and Technical Education at (305) 293-1400 x53389.

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