Skip to content
Learning Standards Standards

What does a student learn in ?

Ohio writes its own learning standards for every core subject rather than adopting a national framework outright. The standards were last refreshed between 2017 and 2018 and run from kindergarten through high school as one connected sequence. High school turns into a set of end-of-course exams tied to specific classes like Algebra I, Biology, and American Government, which feed into the state's graduation requirements.

  • Ohio's Learning Standards: ELA
  • Ohio's Learning Standards: Math
  • Ohio's Learning Standards: Science
  • Ohio's Learning Standards: Social Studies
Source: Ohio Ohio's Learning Standards
The shape of K-12
A plain-language read of how the state runs school.
What students learn
In elementary and middle school, students work through the Ohio Learning Standards for reading, writing, math, science, and social studies year by year. Math builds toward Algebra I, which many students take in eighth or ninth grade before moving into Geometry. Science is taught as a hands-on subject where students investigate and explain how things work, not just memorize facts. Social studies covers Ohio and US history early on and lands on American Government in eleventh or twelfth grade.
How students are measured
The Ohio State Test is the main spring exam in grades three through eight, covering reading and math every year and science in grades five and eight. High schoolers take end-of-course exams in Algebra I, Geometry, English II, Biology, American History, and American Government, with passing scores tied to graduation. Every eleventh grader sits for the ACT or SAT on a school day, paid for by the state. A sample of fourth, eighth, and twelfth graders also takes the NAEP in winter for national comparison.
Frameworks adopted, by subject
The standards documents the state writes against in each subject.
Subject Framework Adopted Source
Mathematics
Ohio's Learning Standards
2017View
English Language Arts
Ohio's Learning Standards
2017View
Science
Ohio's Learning Standards
2018View
Social Studies
Ohio's Learning Standards
2018View
Assessments
The tests students take across K-12, grouped by purpose.

Other

Tests that do not fit the buckets above.

State Summative

Ohio's State Test ELA (Grades 3-8)

OST ELA is the spring summative test in reading and writing for grades 3 through 8, aligned to Ohio's Learning Standards for ELA.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

Ohio's State Test Mathematics (Grades 3-8)

OST Mathematics is the spring summative math test for grades 3 through 8, aligned to Ohio's Learning Standards for Mathematics.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

Ohio's State Test Science (Grade 5)

OST Science is the grade 5 spring science test, aligned to Ohio's Learning Standards for Science.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

Ohio's State Test Science (Grade 8)

OST Science is the grade 8 spring science test, aligned to Ohio's Learning Standards for Science.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

Ohio EOC Algebra I

End-of-course exam in Algebra I, typically grade 8 or 9. Required for graduation under Ohio's high school diploma pathways.

When given:
end-of-course
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
State Summative

Ohio EOC Geometry

End-of-course exam in Geometry, typically grade 9 or 10.

When given:
end-of-course
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
State Summative

Ohio EOC English II

End-of-course exam in English II, typically grade 10.

When given:
end-of-course
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
State Summative

Ohio EOC Biology

End-of-course exam in Biology, typically grade 9 or 10.

When given:
end-of-course
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
State Summative

Ohio EOC American Government

End-of-course exam in American Government, typically grade 11 or 12.

When given:
end-of-course
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
State Summative

Ohio EOC American History

End-of-course exam in American History, typically grade 10 or 11.

When given:
end-of-course
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
National College Readiness

ACT or SAT (Ohio's College and Career Readiness Assessment)

Ohio funds the ACT or SAT (district choice) for all 11th-grade students as part of its accountability and college and career readiness measure.

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
909
Assessments tracked
12
Most recent adoption
2018
Common questions
  • Does Ohio use Common Core?

    Ohio adopted Common Core in 2010 and then revised its own English and math standards in 2017. The current standards still cover the same skills most other states teach, but the wording and order belong to Ohio.

  • What is the spring state test?

    Students in grades 3 through 8 take Ohio's State Test in reading, writing, and math each spring. Grades 5 and 8 also take a science test. High schoolers take end-of-course exams in subjects like Algebra I, English II, and Biology as they finish those classes.

  • Which tests are required to graduate?

    Ohio uses end-of-course exams as one of the graduation pathways. Students take exams in Algebra I, Geometry, English II, Biology, American History, and American Government, usually in the year they take the class. Eleventh graders also sit for the ACT or SAT, paid for by the state.

  • Which subjects have state standards?

    Ohio has standards in English, math, science, and social studies, plus separate standards for the arts, world languages, physical education, technology, and financial literacy. Social studies includes a full year of American Government in high school, which is less common in other states.

  • How often do the standards change?

    The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce reviews each subject's standards on a rolling cycle, usually every five to seven years. English and math were last revised in 2017, and science and social studies in 2018. A new review is underway, so expect updates in the next few years.

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

Frameworks

Assessments