Understanding what children are expected to learn at each grade level helps parents, teachers, and homeschoolers provide age-appropriate education and track developmental progress. While each state or district may vary slightly in its standards, the following is a general guide to core academic expectations by grade level in the United States.
Kindergarten (Ages 5–6)
Focus: Foundational skills, socialization, and basic academic concepts.
- Reading: Letter recognition, letter sounds, rhyming words, simple sight words, listening comprehension.
- Math: Counting to 100, identifying shapes, comparing quantities, simple addition and subtraction.
- Writing: Writing own name, basic sentences, understanding print direction.
- Social Studies/Science: Community helpers, seasons, weather, five senses.
- Social-Emotional: Sharing, following rules, expressing emotions appropriately.
1st Grade (Ages 6–7)
Focus: Building early literacy and numeracy.
- Reading: Phonics skills, decoding short words, reading simple books, comprehension.
- Math: Addition/subtraction within 20, place value, telling time, measuring.
- Writing: Forming complete sentences, story sequencing, spelling common words.
- Science: Life cycles, weather patterns, observations.
- Social Studies: Family traditions, rules, basic maps and globes.
2nd Grade (Ages 7–8)
Focus: Strengthening fluency and problem-solving.
- Reading: Fluent reading, story elements, comparing texts.
- Math: Place value to 1,000, regrouping, simple multiplication, money, data graphs.
- Writing: Paragraph writing, editing skills, opinion writing.
- Science: Earth materials, habitats, weather changes.
- Social Studies: Historical figures, government basics, map skills.
3rd Grade (Ages 8–9)
Focus: Transition from learning to read to reading to learn.
- Reading: Chapter books, main idea and details, using text evidence.
- Math: Multiplication/division facts, fractions, perimeter and area.
- Writing: Informative, opinion, and narrative writing with structure.
- Science: Forces and motion, ecosystems, simple experiments.
- Social Studies: U.S. geography, local government, cultural studies.
4th Grade (Ages 9–10)
Focus: Deeper understanding and independence.
- Reading: Analyzing texts, figurative language, nonfiction skills.
- Math: Long division, multi-digit multiplication, fraction operations.
- Writing: Multi-paragraph essays, research projects.
- Science: Energy, rock cycle, simple machines.
- Social Studies: State history, early U.S. history, map reading.
5th Grade (Ages 10–11)
Focus: Preparing for middle school concepts.
- Reading: Text comparison, theme analysis, summarizing.
- Math: Decimals, volume, graphing, fractions in depth.
- Writing: Persuasive essays, research writing, grammar application.
- Science: Earth, space systems, plant/animal cells.
- Social Studies: U.S. history (colonization to Civil War), civics.
6th Grade (Ages 11–12)
Focus: Abstract thinking and subject-specific content.
- ELA: Literary analysis, citing evidence, academic vocabulary.
- Math: Ratios, expressions, equations, coordinate plane.
- Science: Earth science, energy transfer, scientific method.
- Social Studies: Ancient civilizations, geography skills, government structures.
7th Grade (Ages 12–13)
Focus: Critical thinking and interdisciplinary learning.
- ELA: Argumentative writing, analyzing tone and mood.
- Math: Proportional reasoning, linear equations, geometry.
- Science: Life science, body systems, genetics.
- Social Studies: World history, economics, comparative governments.
8th Grade (Ages 13–14)
Focus: Preparation for high school rigor.
- ELA: Theme development, complex texts, structured essays.
- Math: Algebra basics, systems of equations, functions.
- Science: Chemistry basics, physics concepts, scientific inquiry.
- Social Studies: U.S. history (Civil War to present), Constitution, civic duties.
High School (Grades 9–12)
Focus: College and career readiness, specialization.
9th Grade
- English I: Literary analysis, essay writing, reading fluency.
- Algebra I: Linear functions, equations, inequalities.
- Biology: Cells, heredity, ecosystems, evolution.
- Geography or Civics: Map skills, government structures.
10th Grade
- English II: World literature, persuasive writing.
- Geometry: Shapes, proofs, coordinate geometry.
- Chemistry: Atoms, reactions, periodic table.
- World History: Ancient to modern civilizations.
11th Grade
- English III: American literature, research skills.
- Algebra II or Pre-Calculus: Quadratics, polynomials.
- Physics or elective science: Motion, force, energy.
- U.S. History: Reconstruction to modern era.
12th Grade
- English IV: British literature or college prep writing.
- Advanced math: Pre-Calculus, Calculus, or Statistics.
- Science: Advanced electives (e.g., Anatomy, Environmental Science).
- Government/Economics: Civic responsibilities, financial literacy.
Every child progresses at their own pace, but having a general understanding of what is expected at each grade level helps keep learning on track. Homeschoolers and educators can utilize this as a flexible framework to guide curriculum decisions, allowing for individualized growth and interests.
