Come join us for a day or semester! We believe knowledge of computers and programming is a life skill and encourage anyone curious about CS to join us. Whether you are interested in computers or have a completely different passion, knowledge of computer science and programming empowers you to design solutions to meet real-world needs.
Students of all backgrounds are welcome to sign up for Introduction to CS. No previous programming knowledge is necessary. You can also email us and arrange an H block to visit our class and learn more about our computer science courses. You are welcome to visit one of our CS-themed clubs, or join us for a Puzzle Day (logic puzzles; no programming experience needed) or Hour of Code. Come see what you can accomplish with computers!
We currently offer four Computer Science courses. All students take our required foundation class, Introduction to Computer Science (CS), available as an Honors or College Prep course. This one semester course delves into the history and current state of the field of computer science. Students also learn to write code in two programming languages and develop practical, well-designed programs. Programming exercises are offered at multiple levels of difficulty to fit students with any amount of programming experience.
After Introduction to CS, students take a one-semester course in Java Programming to learn the language of Java and how to work with a compiled language. Students also learn to write Object Oriented programs. Java Programming is offered as an Honors or College Prep level course. Upon successfully completing Java Programming at either level, students can enroll in AP Computer Sciences A (AP Java) or AP Computer Science Principles. Our AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) course is based on Harvard's CS50 curriculum and most students should take AP Java before taking AP CSP. Students who enroll in either AP course are expected to take the College Board's AP exam for their course in May of the school year.
Introduction to
Computer Science | Java Programming |
AP Computer Sciences A (Java) |
AP Computer Science Principles | ||||
A notebook and pencil are necessary for class to take notes, design programs, and work through logical exercises.
When writing code, many students use their own computers or Chromebooks or check out a device from the school district. There are also computers available in the CS classrooms for students to use during class time.
In all of the CS courses at AHS, students write their program code and submit their work using online platforms, not software installed on their computers. Therefore, it does not matter what type of computer the student uses, as long as it can access the internet.
Parents can support their teen's CS education in a variety of ways, regardless of whether the parent has a CS background or any experience programming. If your teen has questions about a program they are writing, it's often helpful to listen to them talk through what they want their program to do, and what they think it is doing. They may wish to talk through their code line by line. Often times, your presence or non-technical questions and comments are enough to help them order their thoughts and decide what to do next.
Parents who are interested in speaking to the class about a CS-related topic may email their student's teacher to let us know. We can often make time for a guest speaker and appreciate the impact it can have on students to hear about how people use CS and programming in their careers and hobbies.