PRICE CUT: AP Computer Science; Beginning Coders Welcome

Compass and Coder Kids have worked together to reduce the class fees of this fall’s AP Computer Science A class! The class begins on September 7, and there is still time to register!

Beginning coders are welcome in this class. The “AP” label does not mean that a tween or teen needs prior coding experience. It does mean that the students will earn a complete, challenging high school credit in computer science that could lead to college credit if he/she decides to take the AP exam next spring.

Computer coding can be for anyone- not just STEM-focused kids. Teens who enjoy music, math, poetry, art, and languages can all succeed in coding because of the logic, patterns, and creativity in the field. Coding is an essential skill of the future!

The cost of this hands-on, small group class has been reduced to $1,299 for the 30-week year (60 instructional hours).

Register for this class online and read below for more information on coding and AP:

Why coding?

  • Teens are drawn to screens and easily embrace new technology. Coding is an extension of what teens already use and play with.
  • Coding helps teens with logic and reasoning as they learn to break a problem down into smaller parts- a skill that is helpful in all areas of life!
  • The World Economic Forum explained that computer science is at the heart of the technology that is “blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres.” Coding is at the center of a tech revolution.
  • Some projections estimate a need for 1.4 million computer science-based jobs within the next 5 years.
  • Computer and information technology occupations are projected to grow 13 percent in the next 10 years, faster than the average for all occupations (Bureau of Labor of Statistics).
  • College grads with degrees in CS now routinely earn more than those with MBAs.

    • Why AP?

  • AP, or Advanced Placement, allows teens to learn to code through college-level instruction.
  • Most colleges and universities in the United States and in more than 100 other countries grant college credit for AP exam scores earned in high school.
  • Credit awarded for AP saves money on college tuition and allows a student to place out of entry-level classes and move on to more challenging work.
  • Homeschool students can compete with traditionally schooled teens with APs. Over 66,000 students took the AP Comp Sci A exam in 2018, with 67.7% passing with a score of 3, 4, or 5.

    • Why Does the AP Computer Science Class Cost So Much?

  • The cost of the AP Computer Science class is similar to other year-long science and math classes taught at Compass by subject matter experts.
  • The cost of the AP Computer Science class at Compass is less than the cost of an equivalent 3-credit hour CS class at University of Virginia ($3,207) or Virginia Tech ($1,977), as examples, that they could earn credit for.

    • Register for AP Computer Science A at Compass today! Classes begin on September 7.