Welcome to the WHHS - AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) website. Your teacher is Mr. Cross (jcross@guhsd.net).
AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) introduces students to the foundational concepts of computer science and challenges them to explore how computing and technology can impact the world. More than a traditional introduction to programming, it is a rigorous, engaging, and approachable course that explores many of the foundational ideas of computing so all students understand how these concepts are transforming the world we live in.
More specifically this AP CSP course is a course designed to prepare students (who are new to computer science) for the AP CS Principles exam. The course covers many topics including the Internet, Big Data and Privacy, and Programming and Algorithms and is a good introductory AP course.
Please note: you do not need to know anything about computers, the Internet, data, and/or programming to be successful. You will learn everything you need to know to get an A in the course and a 5 on the AP Exam.
We will primarily use the Code.org AP CSP curriculum for this course. Code.org is recognized by the College Board as an endorsed provider of curriculum and professional development for AP® Computer Science Principles. This endorsement affirms that all components of Code.org CS Principles’s offerings are aligned to the AP Curriculum Framework standards and the AP CS Principles assessment. Using an endorsed provider affords schools access to resources including an AP CS Principles syllabus pre-approved by the College Board’s AP Course Audit, and officially recognized professional development that prepares teachers to teach this course.
"Designed for 9-12 grade students, Computer Science Principles introduces students to the foundational concepts of computer science and challenges them to explore how computing and technology can impact the world. The curriculum is flexible to be taught as a normal course or as an AP course. CS Principles complements CS Discoveries with a deeper focus on concepts such as how the internet works and the societal impacts of computer science. The course works for beginners and students with experience in our other courses." (source: Code.org: https://code.org/educate/curriculum/high-school)
Only a handful of students come in to our class with any real programming background - most come in with zero experience. Our pass rate for the AP Exam has always exceeded both the National and State averages. We typically have an 80 - 90% passing rate - with most students scoring a 4 or a 5 on the exam.
In the 21-22 school year we had a 100% pass rate on the AP Exam.