High AP Computer Science Principles

Segment One

• Beneficial and Harmful Effects of Computing
• Collaboration in Computing
• Safe Computing
• Binary Numbers
• Data Compression
• Purpose and Function of Innovations
• Strings
• Variables
• Mathematical Expressions
• Calling Functions
• Developing Functions
• Programming Libraries
• Extracting Information
• Data Abstraction in Computing
• Arrays

Segment Two

• Boolean Expressions
• Conditionals
• Iteration
• Binary Search
• Developing Algorithms
• Random Values
• Simulations
• Algorithmic Efficiency
• The Internet
• Fault Tolerance
• Parallel and Distributed Computing
• Crowdsourcing
• Legal and Ethical Concerns

Besides engaging students in challenging curriculum, the course guides students to reflect on their learning and evaluate their progress through a variety of assessments. Assessments can be in the form of practice lessons, multiple choice questions, writing assignments, projects, research papers, oral assessments, and discussions. This course will use the state-approved grading scale. Each course contains a mandatory final exam or culminating project that will be weighted at 20% of the student’s overall grade.***

***Proctored exams can be requested by FLVS at any time and for any reason in an effort to ensure academic integrity. When a proctored exam is administered to assess a student’s integrity, the student must pass the exam with at least a 59.5% to earn credit for the course.

Advanced Placement Policy:

Students entering high school grades 9-12 have access to Advanced Placement courses that may result in earning college credit for high school coursework. These courses are used to calculate overall Grade Point Average (GPA) and typically count extra in the calculation. These courses are also available at no charge to Florida public school students, whereas they may have a tuition cost if taken in college. (S. 1003.02, F.S.)

A passing grade in the course will be accepted for high school credit. Postsecondary institutions determine college credit awarded, based on the AP Exam score earned. FLVS strongly encourages students who take AP courses to sit for the course AP Exam in May. Florida students shall be exempt from payment of any fees associated with AP Exam participation, with the exception of late test registration fees incurred by the student. 

To achieve success, students are expected to submit work in each course weekly. Students can learn at their own pace; however, “any pace” still means that students must make progress in the course every week. To measure learning, students complete self-checks, practice lessons, multiple choice questions, projects, discussion-based assessments, and discussions. Students are expected to maintain regular contact with teachers; the minimum requirement is monthly. When teachers, students, and parents work together, students are successful.