South Dakota’s graduating class of 2025 earned an average ACT composite score of 21.0, well above the national average of 19.4. The ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. The test includes four academic skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science.
A full 60 percent of South Dakota’s 2025 graduates took the ACT, continuing the state’s upward trend on percent of students tested.
Currently, the ACT is optional for students who are considering pursuing postsecondary education. Beginning in the spring of 2026, all South Dakota juniors at public schools will take the test, as it will replace the previously required state assessment at the high school level. The ACT will be administered as part of the school day.
“These numbers reflect what we know to be true – that South Dakota students who take the ACT are well-prepared to move on following their K-12 careers,” said Secretary of Education Joe Graves. “Providing all public-school juniors the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness this spring is an exciting and important step. Having an ACT score in hand can open doors to opportunities students may never have considered before. I look forward to seeing students who would not typically take the ACT realize what their future may hold.”
