MUNCIE, Ind. -- Too many young academically talented female students are being discouraged from taking higher math and science classes, limiting a group of future leaders, says a Ball State University educator.

About 5 to 10 percent of female students have exceptional academic skills. Too few are being challenged by K-12 school officials and teachers, said Cheryll Adams, director of Ball State's Center for Gifted Studies and Talent Development.

"Recent studies of our public schools found that we've made great strides in increasing the number of young women in upper level math and science courses," Adams said. "But, our schools are still not identifying and challenging all gifted and talented females.

"When you fail to challenge young women, you limit their career possibilities," she said. "We need to encourage gifted young women to spur a whole new group of leaders."

Through interviews with female students, Adams believes that many school officials, teachers and parents are discouraging women from taking advanced math and science courses in their junior and senior high school years.

Failing to take upper level courses, including calculus, physics and trigonometry limits students' future career opportunities by about 75 percent, she said.

Young women who fail to complete upper level math and science courses must take those classes at the college level, delaying graduation by one to two years.

School officials and parents often discourage female students from enrolling in difficult classes in order to enjoy their senior year of high school.

Influential adults often tell young girls that they shouldn't be pouring all their time into tough classes when there are football games to attend, proms to prepare for and homecoming courts to be elected to, Adams said.

"On the other hand, those same adults push young men into the higher level courses," she said. "We want our young men to prepare for law or medical school, while we are telling the young women to get ready for marriage and children."

Parents can help their academically gifted daughters by advocating change in the classroom. Parents need to advocate  for our daughters just as they would for their sons. Parents also should enroll their daughters in upper level math and science classes, Adams said.

"They won't miss a prom or football game, and should have a better college career because of it," she said.