SD students outpace national average on ACT scores

South Dakota’s ACT score declines but outperforms similar states and national average

(Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)South Dakota students’ average ACT score in 2025 is slightly lower than last year and is unimproved for a fifth straight year, but it remains higher than the national average. The state Department of Education released results of the college readiness exam Wednesday. South Dakota students earned an average composite score of 21. The highest possible score on the ACT is 36. South Dakota’s results co…

SD students outpace national average on ACT scores

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- South Dakota's graduating class of 2025 earned an average ACT score of 21.0, above the national average of 19.4. In a press release from the South Dakota Department of Education, 60% of South Dakota 2025 graduates took the ACT, a continuous upward trend on students who are testing. Currently, the test is optional for students considering post-secondary education. However, in the spring of 2026, all South Dakota junior…