The primary focus of the AP Computer Science A course is to develop a deep understanding of computer science concepts and programming principles using the Java programming language. Students learn about algorithm design, data structures, object-oriented programming, and problem-solving techniques. The course also covers topics such as loops, conditionals, arrays, strings, methods, recursion, and inheritance. Students develop their coding skills through hands-on programming assignments and projects. The course prepares students for the AP Computer Science A exam, which assesses their knowledge and understanding of these topics.