The goal of the Essential Standards for Science in grades K-12 is to achieve an understanding of scientific concepts and processes required for scientific decision making.  The end goal is the achievement of scientific literacy for all students. The instructional program in the North Carolina public schools is designed to merge unifying concepts of science, strands, content goals, and objectives. The unifying concepts are as follows:

• Systems, Order, and Organization
• Evidence, Models, and Explanation
• Constancy, Change, and Measurement
• Evolution and Equilibrium
• Form and Function

The strands are as follows:

• Physical Science
• Earth Science
• Life Science

The K-8 Science program includes goals and objectives from Physical, Earth, and Life Sciences. The high school program is based on discipline-specific courses that include Biology, Chemistry, Earth/Environmental Science, Physical Science, and Physics. Curriculum documents for science in grades K-12 can be accessed by clicking on the link below. Documents for grades 6-8 are grouped by grade level and by strand.