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Learning Standards Standards

What does a student learn in ?

Ohio writes its own learning standards for every core subject and revises them on a rolling cycle. The state leans on national frames where they help (ACTFL for world languages, CASEL for social and emotional learning, NCAS for the arts) but keeps math, reading, science, and social studies under its own authority. High school runs on an end-of-course system, where the test is tied to the class rather than the grade level.

  • Ohio Department of Education — Ohio's Learning Standards for Fine Arts
  • Ohio Department of Education and Workforce — CTE / Career Ready Practices
  • Ohio Department of Education and Workforce — Computer Science (K-12 CS-aligned)
  • Ohio Department of Education — Ohio's Health Education Standards
  • Ohio Department of Education — Ohio's Physical Education Standards
  • Ohio Department of Education — Ohio's K-12 Social and Emotional Learning Standards
  • Ohio Department of Education and Workforce — World Languages (ACTFL-aligned)
Source: Ohio Ohio's Learning Standards
The shape of K-12
A plain-language read of how the state runs school.
What students learn
Math follows Ohio's 2017 standards through eighth grade, then opens into a traditional Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II sequence in high school. Reading and writing run on the 2017 ELA standards, with students working across stories, articles, and source documents from the early grades on. Science was rewritten in 2018 and asks students to investigate and explain the world, not just memorize it. Social studies builds toward American history and a required civics course before graduation.
How students are measured
In grades 3 through 8, students sit for Ohio's State Test in reading and math each spring, plus a science test in grades 5 and 8. High school replaces those grade-level tests with end-of-course exams in Algebra I, Geometry, English II, Biology, American History, and American Government, which count toward the diploma. Every 11th grader takes the ACT or SAT on a school day, paid for by the state. A sample of fourth, eighth, and twelfth graders also sit for the NAEP, the federal test used to compare states.
Frameworks adopted, by subject
The standards documents the state writes against in each subject.
Subject Framework Adopted Source
English Language Arts
Ohio's Learning Standards
2017View
Mathematics
Ohio's Learning Standards
2017View
Science
Ohio's Learning Standards
2018View
Social Studies
Ohio's Learning Standards
2018View
Computer Science & Digital Fluency
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce — Computer Science (K-12 CS-aligned)K-12 CS Framework-aligned
2016View
Arts: Visual Arts
Ohio Department of Education — Ohio's Learning Standards for Fine ArtsNCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Dance
Ohio Department of Education — Ohio's Learning Standards for Fine ArtsNCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Media Arts
Ohio Department of Education — Ohio's Learning Standards for Fine ArtsNCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Music
Ohio Department of Education — Ohio's Learning Standards for Fine ArtsNCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Theatre
Ohio Department of Education — Ohio's Learning Standards for Fine ArtsNCAS-aligned
2014View
World Languages
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce — World Languages (ACTFL-aligned)ACTFL-aligned
2015View
Physical Education
Ohio Department of Education — Ohio's Physical Education StandardsSHAPE-aligned
2024View
Health Education
Ohio Department of Education — Ohio's Health Education StandardsNHES-aligned
2022View
Career Development & Occupational Studies
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce — CTE / Career Ready PracticesCCTC-aligned
2012View
Social Emotional Learning
Ohio Department of Education — Ohio's K-12 Social and Emotional Learning StandardsCASEL-aligned
2020View
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
15
Grade levels
14
Standards on file
1,762
Assessments tracked
12
Most recent adoption
2024
Common questions
  • Does Ohio use the Common Core?

    Ohio adopted the Common Core in 2010, then revised and rebranded the math and English standards in 2017 as Ohio's Learning Standards. The current versions are written and owned by the state, but the reading, writing, and math expectations still line up closely with the Common Core.

  • What is the spring state test?

    Grades 3 through 8 take Ohio's State Test in reading and writing each spring, and the same grades take a math test. Grade 5 and grade 8 also take a science test. High school students take end-of-course exams in Algebra I, Geometry, English II, Biology, American History, and American Government instead.

  • Do juniors take the ACT or SAT?

    Yes. Ohio pays for every 11th grader to take either the ACT or the SAT during the school day, and the district picks which one. The score counts toward the state's college and career readiness rating and can be sent to colleges.

  • Which subjects beyond reading and math have state standards?

    Ohio has adopted standards in science, social studies, computer science, fine arts (visual art, music, theatre, dance, and media arts), world languages, physical education, health, career and technical education, and social and emotional learning. Not every subject is tested, but each one has written expectations for what students should learn.

  • How often do the standards change?

    The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce reviews each subject on its own cycle, usually every five to seven years. Math and English were last revised in 2017, science and social studies in 2018, health in 2022, and physical education in 2024.

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

Frameworks

Assessments