South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards

South Carolina, United States

A comprehensive set of K-12 academic standards designed to ensure students graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in college, careers, and citizenship. The standards align with the 'Profile of the South Carolina Graduate,' emphasizing world-class knowledge, skills, and life characteristics.

South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards

A comprehensive set of K-12 academic standards designed to ensure students graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in college, careers, and citizenship. The standards align with the 'Profile of the South Carolina Graduate,' emphasizing world-class knowledge, skills, and life characteristics.

Governing Body: South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE)

Year Adopted: 2024 (ELA), 2025 (Math), 2021 (Science), 2019 (Social Studies)

Grade Levels Covered

Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, High School (9-12)

English Language Arts (ELA)

Kindergarten

ELA.F.3.1 Foundations of Literacy

Identify, name, and form all upper and lowercase letters with automaticity.

Key skills: Letter recognition, Handwriting, Alphabetical order
ELA.AOR.1.1 Analysis of Reading

With prompting and support, identify the main idea and key details in a literary text.

Key skills: Comprehension, Identifying details, Critical thinking

Grade 3

ELA.F.3.3 Foundations of Literacy

Read regularly spelled multi-syllabic words by breaking them into syllables.

Key skills: Decoding, Syllabication, Phonics
ELA.W.1.1 Writing

Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.

Key skills: Argumentative writing, Evidence-based claims, Organization

Grade 6

6.AOR.5.3 Analysis of Reading

Trace the development of an author’s argument and identify the use of rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos).

Key skills: Rhetorical analysis, Argument tracing, Critical reading

High School (English 2)

E2.AOR.8.1 Analysis of Reading

Analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance a point of view or purpose in an informational text.

Key skills: Advanced rhetoric, Author's purpose, Persuasive techniques

Mathematics

Grade 1

1.NR.1 Number Relationships

Represent multi-digit numbers in a variety of ways to build place value understanding.

Key skills: Place value, Number representation, Base ten
1.PAFR.1 Patterns, Algebra, and Functional Reasoning

Understand and apply properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction.

Key skills: Commutative property, Fact families, Problem solving

Grade 4

4.NSBT.1 Number Sense and Base Ten

Recognize that in a multi-digit whole number, a digit in one place represents ten times what it represents in the place to its right.

Key skills: Place value power of 10, Multi-digit operations, Estimation

Grade 8

8.PAFR.3 Patterns, Algebra, and Functional Reasoning

Interpret the equation y = mx + b as defining a linear function, whose graph is a straight line.

Key skills: Linear functions, Slope-intercept form, Graphing

High School (Algebra 1)

A1.PAFR.1 Algebraic Reasoning

Create and solve linear equations and inequalities in one variable, including equations with coefficients represented by letters.

Key skills: Variable isolation, Literal equations, Constraint modeling

Science

Grade 4

4-PS3-1 Physical Science

Use evidence to construct an explanation relating the speed of an object to the energy of that object.

Key skills: Energy observation, Kinetic energy, Evidence-based explanation

Grade 6

6-PS1-4 Physical Science

Develop and use a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed.

Key skills: Modeling, Thermodynamics, Phase changes

High School (Biology 1)

B-LS1-1 Life Science

Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life.

Key skills: Molecular biology, DNA structure, Protein synthesis

Social Studies

Grade 2

2.CG.3 Civics and Government

Analyze how rights are granted to U.S. citizens through the founding documents.

Key skills: Citizenship, Founding documents, Bill of Rights

Grade 5

5.4.CE History

Analyze the causes and impacts of social movements in the U.S. and South Carolina.

Key skills: Civil Rights, Social change, Cause and effect

High School (US History)

USHC.1.CX History

Contextualize the impact of various early American documents on the development of American democracy.

Key skills: Contextualization, Democratic principles, Primary source analysis

Implementation Notes

South Carolina transitions to new standards on a staggered schedule. ELA 2024 standards are operational for the 2024-2025 school year. Mathematics 2025 standards become fully operational in 2025-2026. High school courses are 'gateway' courses (Algebra 1, English 2, Biology 1, US History) that require End-of-Course exams.

Assessment

Students in grades 3-8 are assessed via SC READY in ELA and Mathematics. Science is assessed in grades 4 and 6. High school students take the End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP) for gateway subjects. Social Studies testing is currently suspended for grades 3-8 per legislative proviso but remains required for high school graduation (US History and Constitution).

About This Standard
Added:
January 13, 2026

This standard was generated using AI with grounded search to find official, accurate information. While we strive for accuracy, please verify important details with official sources.

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