A new report on Advanced Placement computer science exams shows how curriculum and teacher experience affect student scores. While students using structured online platforms often score above national averages, the data shows that teacher support remains a key factor.
What Happened
According to self-reported data from CodeHS, 74% of students using their AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) curriculum passed the 2026 exam with a score of 3 or higher. This is higher than the national pass rate of 63% reported by the College Board. Among these students, 44% earned scores of 4 or 5, compared to 33% nationwide.
Results look different for the more rigorous AP Computer Science A (CSA) exam, which underwent a major redesign to align with college-level courses. CodeHS students taking the redesigned CSA exam had a 66% pass rate, matching the national average exactly.
The Bigger Picture
These numbers highlight the tension between software and classroom teaching. As we previously reported, digital tools can support learning, but they rarely replace instruction. The CodeHS data shows this gap. First-year AP CSP teachers saw their students achieve a 67% pass rate, while teachers with four or more years of experience achieved a 79% pass rate.
The data has limits. Because the CodeHS results rely on only 74 voluntary teacher reports covering roughly 1,800 students, selection bias is possible. This feeds into the ongoing debate over how school edtech is actually proven.
Even when a curriculum works, access is a major problem. Research from the Education Development Center shows that only 60% of U.S. high schools offered a foundational computer science course during the 2024–2025 school year. For many families, the first challenge is finding a school that offers these courses.
What This Means for Families
These findings show that curriculum is only part of the equation. A structured curriculum can help new teachers get results slightly above the national average. But long-term student success requires schools to invest in teacher retention and professional training. When teachers join dedicated cohorts and get support, student scores rise. For example, the AP CSA cohort's 82% pass rate shows the impact of this approach.
What You Can Do
Parents can take action in several ways. When enrolling your child in AP Computer Science, ask if the teacher has access to professional learning cohorts or mentoring programs, which help raise student pass rates. Since course availability is limited, you can also work with local school boards to introduce foundational computer science courses before high school. If your school's pass rates are low, encourage your student to use verified review programs like the AP CS A Review course or official College Board materials to practice coding.