Binary Code Game
Students from Early College Computer Science
SteamFest 2019 

Robotics Club at Centennial High School (Competition Robotics FTC)

Technology Club Space Ship
Bunche Middle School 
​SteamFest 2019

When we expect more, our students achieve more. Every day, in classrooms all across the nation there are stories of success—from educators who go above and beyond, to parents who support their child’s education, to students who rise to the challenge of high expectations for their achievement. This is one of those stories.

When I first started teaching at Compton Early College I was excited at the new opportunity. Students were interested in learning computer science and with great support from the district and community I set off on a journey that has been amazing. Four years later we have our first graduating class and 100% have been accepted to a 4 year university and 60% of the senior class are graduating with a High School diploma and AA degree. For a school in Compton to achieve this  is monumental. As for my pathway Im excited to have several of my students who are now prepared to be true leaders in the community and will be amazing in the Computer Science and Engineering pathway  they choose to pursue.  
Congratulations Compton Early College Class of 2019!! from Mr.LHood
See Story here on NBC
​​https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Compton-Early-College-High-School-Entire-Graduating-Class-University-509463211.html
​

Larry Hood is an AP Computer Science teacher and STEM specialist at Compton Unified School District and teaches PLTW Computer Science, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science A at Compton Early College High School. Follow him on Twitter at @bustechacademy for computer science inspiration and resources.
Over time, intense heat and constant pressure will transform a lump of coal into a diamond that will shine brilliantly for eternity – and Compton has, yet again, produced another fine diamond.
Students at Compton Unified School District proved they have the knowledge and skills to code apps during the 2018 Congressional App Challenge – a national competition aimed at encouraging U.S. students to learn how to code by creating their own applications. The challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM education and encourage students to engage in these fields. 
Compton Early College High School sophomores Cesar Hernandez, Marleni Angel, and Ta’Corrie Cleveland spent several months taking their time to compete in the app challenge, and their hard work has paid off. They won the 2018 Congressional App Challenge for California's 44th Congressional District. Two of the students - Cesar and Ta’Corrie - are back-to-back app challenge winners for 2017 and 2018.
This year, they earned first place for their Volunteer Log app, which helps students track their community service hours and find volunteer opportunities in the local area. The app encourages volunteering among the community and calculates students’ volunteer hours so they can keep track of them for scholarship purposes.
Last year, Cesar, Ta’Corrie, and Isamari Paz Diaz earned first place for their Easy for the Elderly app, which was designed to help the elderly by giving them an easy way of immediately calling three key people: an emergency contact (like 911), a non-emergency number for minor issues, and the elder's main caregiver. The app also contained an alarm for the user’s medication time. 
The students competed against others in schools across the district – including Carson, East Rancho Dominguez, Lynwood, North Long Beach, San Pedro, South Gate, Watts, Walnut Park, West Rancho Dominguez, Willowbrook, and Wilmington – and had the opportunity to present their app before Rep. Nanette Barragán and a panel of judges.
As app challenge winners, they received prizes of cash, gift cards, and gift certificates and have the opportunity to attend a special reception scheduled to take place on Capitol Hill in May. Their app is also eligible to be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol and on the House of Representatives’ official website.
Although the students indicated the Congressional App Challenge is intense, some have been inspired by the competition to consider computer science as a career choice.
“What I [learned] from this experience was [that] programming and computer science are my passion and now something I want to do as a career,” Cesar said.
I’m very proud of my students. All of them worked hard on their apps, and I look forward to preparing them to be even stronger coders in the next competition.
PLTW’s blog intends to serve as a forum for ideas and perspectives from across our network. The opinions expressed are those of each guest author. 

​

For Compton Unified's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Specialist Larry Hood, there is no time to waste when it comes to ensuring students are equipped with marketable job skills. 

When he's not teaching computer science to Compton Early College High School's inaugural class, Larry is busy implementing the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) STEM-focused curriculum at Compton's secondary schools and a new pilot program that trains middle school students to serve as IT support for classrooms. 

Early college students enrolled in Larry's computer science class learn everything from block coding, programming, and Google Android app development to graphic design and animation -- all of which can lead students to the jobs of today and tomorrow. 

"Students need to have an advantage when they go to college. If they have an introduction to programming, graphics, etc. now, when they get to a four-year university they'll already be familiar with it," he said.

"I want them to have high-paying jobs or to become entrepreneurs. With technology you can create a job for yourself. There are people out there starting multi-million dollar companies right out of the garage. That can happen in Compton too." 

Students enrolled in Larry's class also become members of the school's Career Tech Student Organization, Compton's only chapter, which enables them to organize tech-based activities for the community, and to compete in state and national computer science competitions.

"I love this class because technology changes so much. One thing I like about it being under the PLTW curriculum is that it's constantly upgraded and modified to meet the needs of what's going on in the workforce," he said.

Larry said introducing students to programming languages gives them hands-on experience and a hand up when they go deeper into tech.

"It's important they learn the essentials. Like with teaching math, you don't drop a kid into algebra without him knowing about integers."

Last summer Larry became a certified Project Lead the Way STEM instructor through a credentialing program at Cal Poly Pomona. He also has a Master's degree from Cal State Long Beach in Occupational Studies with an emphasis in Technology and a Bachelor's in Economics with a Minor in Information Systems from Cal State Fullerton.  

With his college experience in mind, Larry is committed to helping his students prepare for college and career while exploring their potential to innovate, create, and program a better future for themselves. 

​"We're introducing them to the Python programming language, which a lot of UC colleges use for their intro to computer science classes," he said. 

​"Students have been creating things in their apps using graphics from the internet, but now they're learning to create original graphics in Photoshop and incorporate them into own their mobile apps. They're learning to take pride in their work. Now they can say, 'It's mine.'"