The following standards have been taken from the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McRel) standards.

English Standards

• Analyzes the use of complex elements of plot in specific literary works.
• Understands how themes are used across literary works and genres.
• Understands the effects of author's style and complex literary devices and techniques on the overall quality of a work.
• Understands relationships between literature and its historical period, culture, and society.
• Understands the effects of author's style and complex literary devices and techniques on the overall quality of a work.
• Understands inferred and recurring themes in literary works.
• Understands writing techniques used to influence the reader and accomplish an author's purpose.
• Understands the philosophical assumptions and basic beliefs underlying an author's work.
• Uses criteria to evaluate own and others' effectiveness in group discussions and formal presentations.
• Uses a variety of criteria to evaluate the clarity and accuracy of information.

Social Studies Standards

• Understand the importance of equality of opportunity and equal protection of the law as a characteristic of American society.
• Understand the important factors that have helped shape American Society.
• Know ways in which Americans have attempted to make the values and principles of the constitution a reality.
• Understand the significance of fundamental values and principles for the individual and society.
• Know some of the efforts that have been put forth to reduce discrepancies between ideals and the reality of American public life.
• Know how various individual actions, social actions, and political actions and help to reduce discrepancies between reality and the ideals of American Constitutional democracy.
• Know historical and contemporary efforts to reduce discrepancies between ideals and reality in American public life.
• Analyze the values held by specific people who influence history and the role their values played in influencing history.
• Evaluate the validity and credibility of different historical interpretations.