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Learning Standards Standards

What does a student learn in ?

New Hampshire leans on national frameworks rather than writing its own from scratch. The state adopted the Common Core for math and reading back in 2010, brought in the Next Generation Science Standards in 2016, and kept its own social studies framework from 2006. The result is a fairly standard New England course of study, with the distinctive choice of giving every junior the SAT for free as part of the state's accountability picture.

  • NH CCRS: ELA
  • NH CCRS: Math
  • NGSS
  • NH K-12 Social Studies Frameworks
Source: New Hampshire New Hampshire College and Career Ready Standards
The shape of K-12
A plain-language read of how the state runs school.
What students learn
Math and reading follow the Common Core from kindergarten through high school, so the sequence looks like what most parents remember from other Common Core states. Science is anchored in the Next Generation Science Standards, which treat science as something students do at the lab bench, not just something they read about. Social studies still runs on the state's 2006 framework, covering history, geography, civics, and economics across the grades.
How students are measured
The main state test is the NHSAS, given each spring in reading and math for grades 3 through 8, and in science at grades 5, 8, and 11. Every 11th grader sits for the SAT School Day on a regular school morning, paid for by the state. A sample of 4th, 8th, and 12th graders also take the NAEP every couple of years so New Hampshire can be compared with other states.
Frameworks adopted, by subject
The standards documents the state writes against in each subject.
Subject Framework Adopted Source
Mathematics
New Hampshire College and Career Ready Standards
2010View
English Language Arts
New Hampshire College and Career Ready Standards
2010View
Science
New Hampshire College and Career Ready Standards
2016View
Social Studies
New Hampshire College and Career Ready Standards
2006View
Assessments
The tests students take across K-12, grouped by purpose.

Other

Tests that do not fit the buckets above.

State Summative

NHSAS: ELA/Literacy (Grades 3-8)

New Hampshire's spring summative test in reading and writing for grades 3 through 8, aligned to New Hampshire's College and Career Ready Standards for ELA.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

NHSAS: Mathematics (Grades 3-8)

New Hampshire's spring summative math test for grades 3 through 8, aligned to New Hampshire's College and Career Ready Standards for Math.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

NHSAS: Science (Grade 5)

Science assessment in grade 5, aligned to NH's NGSS-based science standards.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

NHSAS: Science (Grade 8)

Science assessment in grade 8, aligned to NH's NGSS-based science standards.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

NHSAS: Science (Grade 11)

Science assessment in grade 11, aligned to NH's NGSS-based science standards.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
National College Readiness

SAT School Day

New Hampshire administers the SAT School Day to all 11th-grade students free of charge as part of the state's accountability system.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
National Monitoring

NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress)

Federally administered sample-based assessment in reading, mathematics, science, and writing. NAEP results inform state-by-state comparisons rather than individual student or school accountability.

When given:
biennial in winter
Frequency:
every two years
Official source
Browse by grade and subject
Pick a cell to see exactly what students learn that year.
Subjects covered
4
Grade levels
13
Standards on file
1,015
Assessments tracked
7
Most recent adoption
2016
Common questions
  • Does this state use Common Core?

    Yes, in reading, writing, and math. The state adopted the Common Core standards in 2010 and rebranded them as its College and Career Ready Standards. Science follows the Next Generation Science Standards, adopted in 2016.

  • What's the spring test, and who takes it?

    Students in grades 3 through 8 take the NHSAS each spring in reading, writing, and math. Science is tested in grades 5, 8, and 11. Juniors also sit for the SAT School Day during the school year, paid for by the state.

  • Which subjects have official state standards?

    Four: English language arts, math, science, and social studies. Social studies runs on a 2006 framework, which is older than the others and is due for a refresh.

  • How often do the standards change?

    Rarely. ELA and math have been in place since 2010, science since 2016, and social studies since 2006. Individual districts can add their own priorities on top, so the standards on this page are the floor, not the ceiling.

  • Where can students see what they should learn this year?

    Pick a subject and grade above. Each grade page lists the specific standards students are expected to learn, with the wording the state actually uses.

Sources
Every page link goes back to the state's own document.

Frameworks

Assessments