Anonymous
11/30/2025 21:41
Subject: CS in Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can student take AP Java (CS A) without having taken AP CSP?
The prerequisites are Computer Programming 1 or AP CSP.
Or counselor permission, as always
Anonymous
11/30/2025 15:40
Subject: CS in Middle Schools
There is a prerequisite for Java. For AP CS Principles there wasn't once upon a time. Maybe FoCS (Foundations of CS) fulfills as Java pre req tho
Anonymous
11/30/2025 10:35
Subject: CS in Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:MCPS easily could post a table of elective courses by school. They do not do this because it would highlight the inequity across the system.
In the case of CS, some middle schools offer a course that is more challenging, provides the prerequisite to an AP in HS or serves to fulfill the MSDE tech requirement such that it frees up an elective spot in HS. Guess where that access is prevalent vs. a MS choosing to provide a course that doesn't have those benefits...
Are you trying to hint that wealthy districts have "better" CS classes in MS?
Eh. My 9th grader in a Bethesda high school just took AP Computer Science Principles without having any CS experience. It's easy and meets the tech requirement. She's on track to take a dozen APs before she graduates, but is not interested in computer science. It's not really important which CS you take in middle school or whether you take any at all - the important courses for that subject are all in high school anyway. Just go with student preference and course availability, OP. Don't stress about it.
Taking APCSP without the prerequisite requires an exception from the administration. Having it count for the tech requirement requires that it be coded in the registration system correctly by the school. Once more, guess where each practice is prevalent...
You are incorrect. AP Computer Science Principles counts for the tech credit and has no prerequisite, only a corequisite of Algebra 1.
https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/CourseDetails/Index/ITC2084A
Quite right. AP CS A (also called AP CS Java) is the one, correct? That's the one accepted by more colleges, particularly at ths higher end.
I think that's a different, more challenging class. The easier class is AP Computer Science Principles.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 10:32
Subject: CS in Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:MCPS easily could post a table of elective courses by school. They do not do this because it would highlight the inequity across the system.
In the case of CS, some middle schools offer a course that is more challenging, provides the prerequisite to an AP in HS or serves to fulfill the MSDE tech requirement such that it frees up an elective spot in HS. Guess where that access is prevalent vs. a MS choosing to provide a course that doesn't have those benefits...
I think all schools are now required to offer 8th graders at least one class that fulfills the tech requirement (engineering or computer science). Some do both.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 09:05
Subject: CS in Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can student take AP Java (CS A) without having taken AP CSP?
The prerequisites are Computer Programming 1 or AP CSP.
Across all schools or school specific?
That's according to the MCPS course bulletin.
https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/CourseDetails/Index/ITC2007A
Anonymous
11/30/2025 08:57
Subject: CS in Middle Schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can student take AP Java (CS A) without having taken AP CSP?
The prerequisites are Computer Programming 1 or AP CSP.
Across all schools or school specific?