This study is the Thomas B. Fordham Institute's first review of the quality of state U.S. history standards since 2003. Key findings include: (1) A majority of states' standards are mediocre-to-awful. The average grade across "all" states is barely a D. In twenty-eight jurisdictions--a majority of states--the history standards earn Ds or below. Eighteen earn Fs; (2) Just one state--South Carolina--has standards strong enough to earn a straight A; and (3) Six other states--Alabama, California, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, and the District of Columbia--earn A-minuses, and three more received grades in the B range. Still, this means just ten states--or about one in five--get honors marks. The study also reviewed the framework for the National Assessment of Educational Progress's (NAEP) U.S. history examination and found it deserving of an A-minus. Thus, there are several national models--from the strongest state standards to the NAEP--that lagging states could and should emulate going forward. Appendices include: (1) Methods, Grading, and Criteria; and (2) Detailed State Grades, 2011. Individual sections contain footnotes. (Contains 8 tables.) [Foreword by Chester E. Finn, Jr. and Kathleen Porter-Magee.]