South Dakota Students Outpaced National ACT Scores
Graduates in the state earned an average composite score of 21.1 during the 2026 academic year.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Secondary Education
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South Dakota graduates in 2026 achieved an average ACT composite score of 21.1, notably higher than the national average of 19.2. During this period, three students in the state earned a perfect score of 36.
Why it matters
The performance metrics reflect state-wide educational outcomes as 56% of graduates participated in the exam. These results highlight the comparative academic standing of students following the mandatory testing cycle.
South Dakota graduates earned an average ACT composite score of 21.1, surpassing the national average of 19.2. Participation for this cohort included 56% of graduates, with three individuals achieving a perfect score of 36.
The players
South Dakota Department of Education
This state agency oversees public K-12 education and is responsible for producing the annual accountability report card.
The details
The testing data was gathered after public school juniors sat for the ACT as the state assessment during the spring of 2026. Educators and officials are currently analyzing these figures ahead of further accountability reporting.
Timeline
Spring 2026: Public school juniors took the state-mandated ACT assessment.
2026: The class of 2026 graduates completed the ACT testing cycle.
Fall 2026: The Department of Education will release its official accountability report card.
Culture Shift
This performance data follows the standard cycle established by the South Dakota Department of Education's state assessment requirements. The results represent a benchmark for evaluating secondary education outcomes within the state's current academic framework.
Students and families can use these state-wide averages to gauge college readiness benchmarks compared to national standards. The upcoming report card will provide more granular details regarding school-level performance across the state.
The takeaway
Students aiming for competitive college admissions should continue to monitor testing trends to understand shifting academic benchmarks. Maintaining strong test scores remains a critical component for accessing a wide range of higher education opportunities.
What happens next
The South Dakota Department of Education is scheduled to release its annual accountability report card in the fall of 2026.
Further reading
For more information on academic standards, visit the Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dakotanewsnow.
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