AP Computer Science A

Click here to apply for AP® Computer Science A.

Applications are checked weekly in the spring and summer. You will receive a follow-up message with the status of your application before you pay for the course.

"Leading up to the exam, we had several weeks dedicated entirely to practice tests and review, which definitely helped me earn a 5. At the actual exam, there was no question that tested a concept I wasn't familiar with."

— Emilia D. (AP® CSA student, 2021-2022 school year)

Course Description

For high school students considering careers in STEM, learning computer science is essential. And AP® Computer Science A is equivalent to an introductory, college-level computer science course. Even if you are not seeking a STEM degree, computer science is still an enjoyable subject for students who like math, creative problem-solving, and/or logic. Additionally, successful completion of a rigorous AP® class in high school has been shown to correlate with college success!

This course teaches students Java and prepares them for the AP® CSA exam (read The College Board's revised course framework here). The class emphasizes object-oriented programming methodology with a concentration on problem solving and algorithm development. This is a hands-on, project-based course. Students will learn to code by reading our textbook; watching videos; working with TAs and each other; and (most importantly) designing, coding, documenting, and testing Java programs. There will also be opportunities for students to exercise their creativity by crafting their own custom Java classes and making tutorial videos to cement their understanding of key concepts.

One outstanding feature of this course is its teacher assistants (TAs)! Each TA has done amazing course work in the past and has also earned a 5 on the AP® CSA exam. They are students who know how to ace this course and the AP® exam and want to help others do so as well! They will check in with small groups, coach students on FRQs, host test-review sessions, and maintain an "unofficial" Discord channel where students can pop in to post questions and code. They also create a sense of community in the class, so students not only have Ms. Rebekah for support: they also have incredible TAs, peer leaders, that they can work alongside!

Students will primarily interact with Ms. Rebekah, their classmates, and the TAs through Google Classroom, Discord, the weekly Zoom Office Hour, and email.

• On Google Classroom, students will participate in discussions, submit projects, post resources, upload homework, and complete assessments that are organized into weekly work folders. There will also be some partner coding and group projects during the year. 
• This course also features TA small groups who can provide another point of contact and near-peer support for the course. 
• The TA-run Discord Channel is another optional way for students to build connections, get help with homework, brainstorm project ideas, study for tests, and more!
• There will be optional weekly Zoom Computer Science Office Hours on Mondays from 4-5 pm ET. This time is available for both AP CSP and AP CSA students. This is a great opportunity for students to ask and answer questions, collaborate with each other and learn of course updates if needed. This will be recorded and posted for students unable to attend. 

Student Samples

To give prospective students a better idea of what they will accomplish in this course, here is a compilation of projects by former students:

Who Should Apply

Anyone who is interested in computer science or technology either as a passion or a college major! This course introduces high school students to the foundational concepts of coding in Java. Students who have completed AP^® Computer Science Principles should absolutely apply to keep studying computer science! Students who want challenging CS course to make their high school transcripts standout should also apply! 

Prerequisites

The College Board recommends that all students should have completed Algebra II with a grade of B or better and have experience with problem solving. A student in the AP® Computer Science A course should be comfortable with functions and the concepts surrounding the uses of functional notation.  Prospective students should be ready to commit 10 hours per week to working independently on the computer. 

Previous computer programming experience is not required, but is certainly helpful. Typically, I recommend that students take AP® CSP and then AP® CSA, if their schedules allow. While AP® CSA does not require former coding experience, students who have AP CSP first tend to do better. Students without the necessary math prerequisite or those not planning on majoring in CS in college should also consider AP® Computer Science Principles  instead. Here is a brief summary of the difference between CSA and CSP. 

Texts Required

• Textbook: CSAwesome by Dr. Barbara Ericson, Dr. Beryl Hoffman, and team. Available for free online through Runestone Academy.
• Optional Test Prep: Barron’s AP® Computer Science A by Roselyn Teukolsky. Latest edition (announced in the spring). 
• Supplemental sites: Google Classroom, Discord (unofficially), CodingBat (required), myAP (required), Kjell's Programmed Lessons (optional), CodeHS (optional), ChatGPT (optional)

Technical Requirements

• Computer with audio and high-speed internet access
• A Gmail account

Grading Approach

The goal of this course is to help all students learn the classwork well enough to earn an A! Students are graded based on what they know and what they can do rather than on their timeliness or compliance (following Grading for Equity principles). Tests are meant to assess as well as prepare students for the AP^® exam. There are also project grades which comprise a large percentage of the overall course grade. Test corrections and late work are accepted, and all possible accommodations will be made to help every student succeed. Additionally, the grades of all students who score a 5 on the AP® exam will be updated to an A+.

Course Dates

• There will be optional weekly Zoom Computer Science Office Hours on Mondays from 4-5 pm ET. This is a great opportunity for students to ask and answer questions, collaborate with each other and learn of course updates if needed. This will be recorded and posted for students unable to attend. 

Ms. Rebekah will post weekly work folders each Monday that will be due the following Monday. 

This course will run approximately from September 8, 2025—May 15, 2026 (depending on the date of the AP exam), except for the following breaks:

• Thanksgiving break (November 24 - December 1)
• Winter break (December 12 - January 5)
• Spring break (March 30 - April 6)

Course Fee

• Regular Tuition: $900
• Audit: $400

*Note from the instructor: I am committed to helping all students learn computer science, so please contact Ms. Rebekah if you need help paying for the course.

Instructors:

This will be Ms. Rebekah's seventh year teaching AP® CSA for PA Homeschoolers. 

In 2023-2024, Ms. Rebekah has received a CSTA New Jersey Teaching Excellence Award. In 2023, she also received an Educator Affiliate Award for NCWIT's Aspirations in Computing Program for her work with girls in computer science. For 6 summers, Ms. Rebekah has scored the Create Performance Task for AP CSP exam as reader. Following her master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University, Ms. Rebekah has earned multiple educator certificates from various tech companies and from Penn State University Lehigh Valley for teaching English Language Learners (ELLs). She holds PA and NJ teaching certifications in computer science as well as a broad variety of other subjects. She has participated in Cooperative Learning Research for Computer Science Principles, served as a CS for All Teachers Ambassador, and is currently a CS Awesome PD Facilitator. 

In addition to teaching AP® Computer Science Principles, Ms. Rebekah is the instructor for AP® Computer Science A for PA Homeschoolers. In addition to her online teaching, Ms. Rebekah serves as the Computer Science Innovation Specialist for the New Jersey Department of Education. Ms. Rebekah is a lifelong educator and learner who has taught middle and high school students—public, charter, private, and homeschooled—for the past 16 years. Having been homeschooled herself, Ms. Rebekah understands how diverse, independent, intelligent, and engaged homeschooled students are. She is excited to continue to work with such talented students and aid them in their studies of computer science!