We’re happy to announce that the new CodeHS AP Computer Science A (CSA) course, Cortado, is officially available on CodeHS! This course is completely redesigned,  fully aligned with the latest updates from the College Board, and endorsed by College Board for the 2025-2026 school year.

​What’s New?​

Here's a quick rundown of key updates:

  1. Updated Course Structure:

    • We've streamlined the previous AP CSA structure from ten units down to four comprehensive units:

      • Unit 1: Using Objects and Methods (15-25% exam weighting)

      • Unit 2: Selection and Iteration (25-35% exam weighting)

      • Unit 3: Class Creation (10-18% exam weighting)

      • Unit 4: Data Collections (30-40% exam weighting)

  2. Curriculum Changes:

    • Text Files and Data Sets: New lessons introduce students to real-world data management, preparing them with practical skills they’ll use beyond the AP exam.

    • Inheritance Removed: The inheritance unit (formerly Unit 9) has been removed, allowing deeper exploration of essential topics like object management and data structures.

  3. Enhanced Content:

    • Interactive Lessons: Cortado includes new videos, hands-on exercises, and simulations designed to reinforce key concepts and boost student engagement.

    • Pedagogy-Focused Activities: Incorporating PRIMM (Predict, Run, Investigate, Modify, and Make) exploration activities provides students with structured yet flexible learning experiences, deepening their understanding of programming concepts.

  4. Assessment Ready:

    • Embedded AP-style assessments ensure students are continuously practicing and preparing effectively for the AP CSA exam.

Tips for Teaching the New AP CSA (Cortado) Course

To help you smoothly navigate the changes in our AP CSA (Cortado) course, here are some practical tips to enhance your teaching experience and effectively support your students.

  1. Familiarize Yourself with the New Structure and Material

    • Spend time reviewing the consolidated units and weighting to effectively pace your lessons. We provided guidance in the course syllabus for your reference.

    • Be sure to review the new Using Text Files lesson to understand file input/output, a new topic on the AP exam.

  2. Leverage PRIMM Exploration

    • Encourage your students to deeply engage with the PRIMM approach (Predict, Run, Investigate, Modify, Make) in the Exploration activities, which are in almost every lesson in the course. This approach helps students develop stronger computational thinking and debugging skills.

      1. We recommend going through the first 2-3 Explorations together as a class to model expected approach and mindset.

      2. You can read more about PRIMM and our new Explorations here.

  3. Integrate AP-Style Assessments Early

    • Start using the embedded AP-style assessments (located at the end of each module) early in the school year to build students' confidence with the format and rigor of the AP exam. Each module has a midterm and final exam, consisting of multiple choice and free response questions.

  4. Watch the Introducing the New CodeHS AP CSA Course - Cortado webinar to familiarize yourself with course updates

  5. Join the 2025-26 AP CSA Cohort

    • Get support navigating your first year with this new curriculum by joining a cohort of educators teaching AP CSA across the country! This cohort will kick off on July 29th, 2025 and will run throughout the year. The cohort will include:

      1. Synchronous Sessions

      2. Asynchronous Activities

      3. Spotlight Lessons

  6. Get Started!

Explore the full Cortado course in the CodeHS Course Catalog today, and prepare your students for success on the AP CSA exam and beyond.

If you have questions or want more details, feel free to reach out—we’re here to support your teaching journey every step of the way!