Starting in 2019-2020, Hillsboro High School students will have the option of taking AP Computer Science Principles. This course is a full-year, entry-level course that introduces high school students to the foundations of modern computing. The course covers a broad range of foundational topics such as programming, algorithms, the Internet, big data, digital privacy and security, and the societal impacts of computing. This course is one of a series of courses taught at HSD to provide literacy in computer science.
Computing affects almost all aspects of modern life and all students need access to a computing education that prepares them to pursue the wide array of intellectual and career opportunities that computing has made possible. This course is not a tour of current events and technologies. Rather, it seeks to provide students with a “future proof” foundation in computing principles so that they are adequately prepared with both the knowledge and skills to live and meaningfully participate in our increasingly digital society, economy, and culture.
There are no formal prerequisites for this course, though the College Board recommends that students have taken at least Algebra 1. For students wishing to complete the requirements of the AP Exam and Performance Tasks, we recommend they be in 10th grade or above due the expectations of student responsibility and maturity for an AP course.