Computer Science Courses

Course Description:

Students will learn about programming for the physical world by blending hardware design and software development. They will design and develop a physical computing device, interactive art installation, or wearable, and plan and develop code for microcontrollers that bring their physical designs to life.  Physical computing projects will promote student awareness of interactive systems, including Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and broaden their understanding of abstract computer science concepts through meaningful and authentic applications.

Course Description:

Students trace the history, development, and influence of automation and robotics as they learn about mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation, and computer control systems. Students use the VEX Robotics® platform to design, build, and program real-world objects such as traffic lights, toll booths, and robotic arms. This course is a prerequisite for the credited course of Robotics.

Course Description:

This course provides an introduction to computer science, encompassing programming concepts, career paths, and computational thinking. Students will explore data analysis, visualization, and emerging technologies in the field of computer science. Students will be introduced to skills from the various year two pathways.

Notes:

This course is the level one course in any of the Computer Science Programs of Study.  Students who complete all three required courses in a program will be named CTE completers.  For a list of required courses, please visit the CTE Completer Chart.

This course meets the requirements for a computer science course and a third science-flex option.

AP Computer Science Principles (APCSP)

Course Description:

AP Computer Science Principles introduces students to the central idea of computer science, instilling the ideas and practices of computational thinking and inviting students to understand how computing changes the world.  The course promotes deep learning of computational content, develops computational thinking skills, and engages students in the creative aspects of the field.

Notes:

This is a course recommended for the student who has demonstrated a high level of interest, dedication, and aptitude for a subject area.  College credit may be earned with an acceptable score on the AP exam.  Students must take the AP exam in order to receive the weighted grade points.

This course is the level one course in any of the Computer Science Programs of Study.  Students who complete all three required courses in a program will be named CTE completers.  For a list of required courses, please visit the CTE Completer Chart.

This course meets the requirements for a computer science course and a third science-flex option.

Course Description:

Have you ever wondered how Netflix knows what you’ll watch next, how businesses decide what to sell, or how scientists predict weather and trends? In Data, Decisions and AI, students will learn how to turn raw data into real answers. Using spreadsheets, databases, programming, and AI tools, students collect, clean, analyze, and visualize data to solve authentic problems from fields like business, science, sports, and technology. This hands-on course emphasizes projects, teamwork, and storytelling with data—helping students uncover patterns, make predictions, and explain insights in ways that actually matter in the real world. Perfect for curious thinkers who like problem-solving, creativity, and seeing how technology drives decisions behind the scenes.

Notes:

This course is the level two course in the Data Analytics Programs of Study.  Students who complete all three required courses in a program will be named CTE completers.  For a list of required courses, please visit the CTE Completer Chart.

This course meets the requirements for a third science-flex option. 

Course Description:

How do self-driving cars recognize objects? How do chatbots understand language? How does AI decide what content you see online? In Artificial Intelligence, students move beyond being AI users to becoming AI creators. Through hands-on projects, students explore how machines learn, see, read, and make decisions using real data and modern AI tools and programming libraries. Students design and test machine learning models, experiment with image recognition and language processing, and examine how bias, ethics, and transparency affect AI systems in the real world. This course emphasizes creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving—preparing students to understand, build, and responsibly shape the AI technologies that are transforming nearly every industry.

Notes:

This course is the level three course in the Data Analytics Programs of Study.  Students who complete all three required courses in a program will be named CTE completers.  For a list of required courses, please visit the CTE Completer Chart.

This course meets the requirements for a third science-flex option. 

AP Cybersecurity

Course Description:

AP Cybersecurity is a year-long high school course that offers a broad introduction to the field and aligns closely with a college-level, introductory cybersecurity course. Students learn about common threats and vulnerabilities and how they combine to create risk. Students study how individuals and organizations manage risk and how risk can be mitigated through a defense-in-depth strategy. Students explore specific vulnerabilities, attacks, mitigations, and detection measures across a variety of domains including physical spaces, computer networks, devices, and data and applications. Throughout the course, students consider the impact of cybersecurity on individuals, organizations, societies, and governments. Content and skills taught in the course align with the professional skills outlined in the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Workforce Framework. 

Notes:

This is a course recommended for the student who has demonstrated a high level of interest, dedication, and aptitude for a subject area.  College credit may be earned with an acceptable score on the AP exam.  Students must take the AP exam in order to receive the weighted grade points.

This course is the level two course in the Information Technology Program of Study.  Students who complete all three required courses in this program will be named CTE completers.  For a list of required courses, please visit the CTE Completer Chart.

This course meets the requirements for a third science-flex option. 

Course Description:

Students will develop knowledge and skills in computational thinking and problem solving; data and information; algorithms and programs; computers and communications; and community, global, and ethical impacts. This course focuses on guiding students to the application of cybersecurity concepts and helping them make real-world connections between course topics and cybersecurity in the field of computer science.  Students will be encouraged to participate in the Cyberpatriot competition team.

Notes:

This course is the level three course in the Information Technology Program of Study.  Students who complete all three required courses in this program will be named CTE completers.  For a list of required courses, please visit the CTE Completer Chart.

 This course meets the requirements for a third science-flex option. 

Course Description:

This course expands upon the concepts covered in the Introduction to Computer Science/AP CSP course and places significant emphasis on developing proficiency in computer programming/coding with a Java focus. Students will learn to analyze problems and develop solutions to those problems in a collaborative learning environment.

Notes:

This course is the level two course in the Software Development Program of Study.  Students who complete all three required courses in this program will be named CTE completers.  For a list of required courses, please visit the CTE Completer Chart.

This course meets the requirements for a third science-flex option. 

AP Computer Science A

Course Description:

AP Computer Science A is equivalent to a first-semester, college level course in computer science. The course introduces students to computer science with fundamental topics that include problem solving, design strategies and methodologies, organization of data (data structures), approaches to processing data (algorithms), analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing. The course emphasizes both object-oriented and imperative problem solving and design using Java language. These techniques represent proven approaches for developing solutions that can scale up from small, simple problems to large, complex problems. The AP Computer Science A course curriculum is compatible with many CS1 courses in colleges and universities.

Notes:

This is a course recommended for the student who has demonstrated a high level of interest, dedication, and aptitude for a subject area.  College credit may be earned with an acceptable score on the AP exam.  Students must take the AP exam in order to receive the weighted grade points.

This course is the level two course in the Software Development Program of Study.  Students who complete all three required courses in this program will be named CTE completers.  For a list of required courses, please visit the CTE Completer Chart.

This course meets the requirements for a third science-flex option. 

Course Description:

Students will learn game design principles, programming, asset creation, and user interface design in Unity. Students will also explore the C# programming language. Through hands-on projects using industry-standard game engines, students will develop and test their own games.

Notes:

This course is the level three course in the Software Development  Program of Study.  Students who complete all three required courses in this program will be named CTE completers.  For a list of required courses, please visit the CTE Completer Chart.

This course meets the requirements for a third science-flex option. 

Course Description:

Computer Science Internship is a course partnered with the Lakeside Tech Team.  The goal of the class is to assist students who begin careers immediately upon high school graduation as well as those who intend to complete post-secondary training prior to starting a career.  In this course, students advance their computer science skills, sharpen soft-skills, and learn new skills while completing internship assignments in a workplace environment. The internship opportunity provides participants with links to current resources, information, and guidance from computing professionals. It also provides intense, competency-based worksite immersion in advanced computer science concepts.