AP Computer Science A (Cortado)
- Level High School
- Contact Hours 135
- Timeframe Year
This course is fully aligned to the College Board AP CS A course standards and is officially endorsed by the College Board. The course introduces students to the design of solutions to problems, the use of data structures to organize large sets of data, the development and implementation of algorithms to process data and discover new information, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems.The course emphasizes object-oriented programming and design using the Java programming language. For more information on this course, go to https://www.codehs.com/csa25
To view the entire syllabus, click here or click to explore the full course.
MODULES - 4
Students learn the fundamentals of writing and running Java programs, including how to use variables, data types, expressions, and input/output. They are also introduced to classes, and learn how to create objects and call methods, including those from built-in classes such as Math and String.
Students learn how to control the flow of a program using conditional statements and loops. They develop Boolean expressions, use relational and logical operators, and write selection statements with if, if-else, and if-else-if. Students also explore iteration through while and for loops, including nested and compound iterations.
Students learn how to design and implement classes using principles of object-oriented programming. They explore encapsulation, access control, and the structure of classes with instance variables, constructors, and methods. Students write accessor and mutator methods, define behaviors using parameters and return values, and understand how object references are passed and returned.
Students learn how to work with collections of data using arrays, ArrayList objects, and 2D arrays. They develop and analyze algorithms that involve searching, sorting, traversing, and manipulating elements in these structures. Students also explore reading data from text files and using wrapper classes to convert between primitive types and objects.
Explore programs that your students will build throughout this course!
CodeHS is an endorsed provider by the College Board for AP computer science courses and PD. This endorsement affirms only the components of Endorsed Provider's offerings aligned to all the AP Curriculum Framework standards and the AP CS assessments.
Here are a few examples of teacher resources and materials to use in the AP Computer Science A (Cortado) course
Learn how to lead a successful AP® Computer Science A class with CodeHS. The Teaching AP® Computer Science A professional development course prepares teachers to teach AP® Computer Science A with a focus on the Java programming language. Teachers will practice the skills they need to teach tricky concepts, debug programs, answer questions, and lead a blended classroom.
View Units CodeHS PD Options| Standards Framework | Alignment |
|---|---|
| Certiport IT Specialist Java | 100% View |
| AP Computer Science A (2025) | 100% View |
| Java SE 8 Programmer I | 76% View |
Create and organize Assignments in any CodeHS course that you're teaching. You can even add custom assignments to pre-existing CodeHS courses.
Learn MoreDidn't find what you were looking for? Here are a few links that might be useful to you.
This page lists resources for you and your students to practice AP® Computer Science A FRQs. It includes PDFs, pre-entered code, and autograded practice problems from past AP® CSA exams.
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AP Computer Science A (Cortado) from CodeHS is a year-long, college-level course for high school students ready to learn programming in depth using Java. It fits students who want a rigorous, exam-focused class and plan to sit the AP Computer Science A exam. In CodeHS pathways it typically comes in grade 11 or 12, after an intro course or AP Computer Science Principles.
Not necessarily. AP Computer Science A (Cortado) from CodeHS begins with Java fundamentals like variables, data types, and writing your first program, and it includes an Intro to Programming in Java with Karel the Dog module recommended as summer work for students new to coding. That said, most students do best after an intro CS course or AP Computer Science Principles first.
AP Computer Science Principles is a broad introduction to computing concepts that can be taught in several languages, while AP Computer Science A is a focused, college-level programming course taught entirely in Java. CodeHS recommends students take AP Computer Science Principles first, then AP Computer Science A (Cortado), since Principles builds the foundation the Java-heavy A course assumes.
In AP Computer Science A (Cortado) from CodeHS, students write object-oriented programs in Java and work through the full AP Computer Science A toolkit: variables and methods, conditionals and loops, designing their own classes, and data structures like arrays, ArrayLists, and 2D arrays, along with searching, sorting, and recursion. They apply these skills in hands-on labs and projects that teachers can choose to fit their class.
AP Computer Science A (Cortado) from CodeHS comes with a large set of hands-on labs that teachers can choose from, including the 2048 puzzle game, the Magpie chatbot, Virtual Pet, Receipt, Consumer Review, Data Set, Steganography, Picture, Celebrity, and the Elevens card game. Teachers pick the labs that fit their class, and students can also build their own programs in the CodeHS Sandbox.
Yes. AP Computer Science A (Cortado) from CodeHS is endorsed by the College Board and fully aligned to the 2025 AP Computer Science A course framework. Because CodeHS is an endorsed provider, the course includes a pre-approved syllabus (AP CSA syllabus ID 1667173v1), so teachers can clear the AP Course Audit quickly instead of writing one from scratch.
AP Computer Science A (Cortado) from CodeHS includes a full FRQ Center with free-response questions in the exact format of the exam, an AP Test Practice module, and pretest and posttest assessments. CodeHS teachers who responded to our 2025 AP exam survey reported a 78% passing rate on AP Computer Science A, compared with 67% nationally.
No. CodeHS supports teachers with a professional development course, Teaching AP Computer Science A, that prepares you to teach tricky Java concepts, debug programs, answer student questions, and lead a blended classroom. The course also includes sample lesson plans, a full syllabus, and built-in grading tools, so you don't need to be a Java expert to run a successful class.
After AP Computer Science A (Cortado), CodeHS recommends Data Structures in C++, which continues the college-level programming sequence in the CodeHS Advanced Placement Computer Science pathway. Students finish ready for college CS coursework, and because the course is fully aligned to the Certiport IT Specialist Java certification, they can also pursue that credential.
