There are a lot of reasons high schools aren't teaching computer science and programming and I agree there isn't a consensus on what to teach. They can't agree on language at the college level either but at least they are setting a foundation on which to build. Most teachers are not qualified or given the training to teach CS which is then compounded by a lack of curriculum. Kid's have packed schedules and have to worry about their GPA in the crazy college entrance rat race so they aren't signing up. The introductory courses are all about how to do nice spreadsheets which loses the kid's interest. There is a huge stereotype around computer nerds that turns kids off before they even sign up. I'm sure there are more.
My kid's elementary school hasn't had a computer lab for years - they switched to iPad's which I've yet to see used for anything other than games. The former computer lab was converted into a classroom because they needed the space. This in an area where many of the parents work in high tech....
From the Mother Jones article -
Research shows that girls tend to pull away from STEM subjects—including computer science—around middle school, while rates of boys in these classes stay steady. Fortunately, says Margolis, there's evidence that tweaking the way computer science is introduced can make a difference. A 2009 study tested various messages about computer science with college-bound teens. It found that explaining how programming skills can be used to "do good"—connect with one's community, make a difference on big social problems like pollution and health care—reverberated strongly with girls. Far less successful were messages about getting a good job or being "in the driver's seat" of technological innovation—i.e., the dominant cultural narratives about why anyone would learn to code.
There were 8% women in my EE graduating class almost 20 years ago. Not much has changed since then unfortunately.
