K-12 Computer Science
Bellevue School District is committed to offering an integrated Computer Science curriculum for each and every student that applies computational thinking, programming, and physical computing to analyze new problems, build predictive models, and create innovative solutions. Developing this pathway is important not only because of the emerging career relevance of Computer Science in all industries, but also because of the need to address long-standing opportunity gaps related to race, gender, and students with disabilities.
Why Computer Science?
Computer Science has never been more important for our students than it is right now. As we look toward the future, we know that the skills that students learn in their CS program will serve them throughout their schooling and into a wide range of careers. We also know that we live in a community where some students have vast access to CS learning outside of school, while many of our students do not have the same opportunities.
This is why our program has the lofty goal of reaching all students. Computer Science gives creative voice to students in a new way. It helps students understand the technology-rich world around them. It opens doors and levels playing fields. It builds a skill set that student need as they set out to become globally competent change-makers.
K-12 Computer Science Initiative at a Glance
Our Computer Science classrooms focus on building creative, flexible, computational thinkers. Our work is centered around thinking skills, not around the projects that we build. Coding, robotics, and unplugged lessons are what we do, but what we learn is: predicting and analyzing, pattern recognition, algorithmic thinking, decomposition, perseverance, abstraction, debugging, and collaboration.
A second tenet of our program is showing students that everyone belongs in Computer Science. We work every day to combat the pervasive stereotypes about who this subject area is for, while simultaneously showing students the possibilities that Computer Science can open in other areas of interest, whether that is art, sports, medicine, fashion, gaming, storytelling, engineering… Computer Science opens doors in every passion and career.
Our goal is not to ensure that every student wants to be a programmer, but to ensure that every door is open to all of our students, and that all of our students have the 21st century skills that will help them become creators of their future world.
Our Focus
- All students at all schools receiving a high quality computer science education beginning in Kindergarten and extending through 12th grade.
- Strategies to intentionally engage females and students of color in computer science.
- Inclusion of students in special education.
- Student success with 21st century skills: critical thinking, collaboration, computational thinking, communication, and creativity.
- Providing all students with an exemplary education so they can succeed in college, career, and life.
Curriculum Developer
Dani Ward
wardd@bsd405.org
Thank you to our partner, the Bellevue Schools Foundation, for providing these opportunities for all students across the district through a generous grant.
Pathways
Elementary School
- Students at Ardmore, Lake Hills, Sherwood Forest, and Stevenson attend Computer Science as a specialist class once per week, for 40 minutes.
- Students at Clyde Hill, Spiritridge, Phantom Lake, and Enatai experience Computer Science in their regular classroom, integrated into their core content areas. This is the model that will continue to expand to our other elementary schools as part of our CS initiative.
- All of our elementary schools have access to integrated Computer Science curriculum and professional learning and are supported by a Computer Science Lead Teacher.
Middle School
- When students reach Middle School, elective Computer Science courses become available to them. These include CS Discoveries, Python 101 and Python 102, and Intro to Game Design, and are part of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program.
- All students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade experience integrated Computer Science units that occur during their general Science class. These units include codable robotics, block-based coding, and text-based coding.
High School
- Our high schools offer a variety of elective Career and Technical Education (CTE) Computer Science classes. Students can deepen their skills with a robust progression of programming courses, including multi-level Python programming and AP Computer Science offerings. High school students may also explore specialized areas such as game design, mobile app development, and IT fundamentals.
- For those seeking professional-level experiences, advanced networking and cybersecurity courses are available. These programs prepare students for industry certifications, including Cisco’s CCNA, CCNP, and cybersecurity credentials and a variety of IT Specialist Certifications.
To learn more about all of the elective offerings for middle and high school students in Computer Science, visit CTE Information Technology.