El Paso Computes, a joint effort by the City of El Paso, The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), and the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD), is showing early results in its mission to expand computer science and artificial intelligence education across K–12 schools in the region. According to a new report released by the partners, the initiative aims to prepare 750 teachers and reach over 20,000 students with computer science and AI learning opportunities.
The program is supported by a $3 million investment from the City of El Paso. Its objectives include preparing teachers, strengthening educator preparation programs, and increasing hands-on learning experiences for students, especially those in underserved communities.
Mayor Renard U. Johnson stated, “El Paso Computes is an investment in our young people and in El Paso’s economic future. By training teachers to bring coding, AI and computational thinking into classrooms across the city, we are preparing students for the careers and industries we are working to grow here at home. It also reflects our broader commitment to expanding opportunity for youth and ensuring more students can participate in the technology-driven economy.”
UTEP President Heather Wilson highlighted the impact on university enrollment: “Computer Science is one of our fastest growing majors at UTEP. We attribute that growth to early work with the K-12 schools — exposing students to coding and computing. El Paso Computes builds on this and exposes even more young people to computing by reaching even more teachers. We are grateful to our partnership with the city to make that happen.”
Dr. Brian Lusk, Superintendent of Schools at EPISD, commented on alignment with district goals: “El Paso Computes strongly aligns with El Paso ISD’s commitment to deliver academic excellence and opportunities for our students. We’re seeing firsthand how this program is supporting both teachers and students, empowering educators with new tools and inspiring students to build confidence and curiosity in technology driven learning.”
Since its launch, more than 287 current K–12 teachers and teacher residents have participated in professional development through El Paso Computes. Sixty-four educators have completed formal course requirements, while at least ten have earned certification in grades 8–12 Computer Science. Workshops led by faculty have addressed topics such as computational thinking, AI literacy, coding fundamentals, prompt engineering, and responsible use of AI in classrooms.
UTEP has also introduced TED 4550: Computational Thinking for Educators as a required course within its teacher preparation curriculum. This ensures all future graduates from UTEP’s College of Education will receive foundational training in computational thinking and computer science concepts.
In addition to teacher training efforts, summer camps focused on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence served over 190 middle and high school students in 2025. These camps provided practical exposure to technology skills relevant for high-demand careers.
To support long-term sustainability of these initiatives, thirty-seven faculty members from UTEP and El Paso Community College (EPCC) have completed specialized training aimed at improving instruction for future educators.
An independent evaluation found statistically significant improvements among participating teachers regarding their knowledge of computer science and AI as well as their confidence in teaching these subjects. Teachers also reported feeling more comfortable using AI tools responsibly during instruction.
While EPISD currently serves as the pilot district for El Paso Computes, there are plans to expand participation throughout additional school districts across the region over the next two years.
