RAPID CITY, S.D. – South Dakota’s Class of 2026 once again outperformed the nation on the ACT, continuing a six-year streak of scoring above the national average.
According to the South Dakota Department of Education, graduating seniors posted an average composite ACT score of 21.1, compared to the national average of 19.2. More than half of South Dakota’s graduates took the college entrance exam, and three students earned a perfect score of 36.
The state’s average score rose slightly from last year, while the national average declined.
Education officials say ACT scores remain an important measure of college and career readiness and are commonly used for college admissions, course placement, and financial aid decisions.
The Department of Education plans to release additional student performance data later this fall as part of the state’s annual accountability report.
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