The South Dakota Department of Education has released its 2024–25 Report Card, showing modest but meaningful gains in student achievement across the state. English Language Arts proficiency rose by one percentage point to 52 percent, while math proficiency held steady at 44 percent. Growth targets were met by 56 percent of students in ELA and 51 percent in math, reflecting slight improvements from the previous year.
Secretary of Education Dr. Joseph Graves commended students for demonstrating grade-level mastery and readiness for more advanced content, while acknowledging that further progress is needed. He expressed optimism that the restoration of the Science of Reading in elementary schools will lead to stronger outcomes. Additionally, new math standards currently under review are expected to enhance numeracy across grade levels.
A standout achievement in this year’s report is the graduation rate, which climbed to 86 percent—the highest in a decade. This increase was bolstered by a five-point rise in graduation rates among Native American students, marking their highest rate in five years.
Despite these academic gains, student attendance remains unchanged, posing a challenge to sustained improvement. Officials emphasized that instructional changes can only be effective if students are consistently present in the classroom. The Department of Education is calling for a collective effort from families, educators, and communities to address attendance and ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed.
The full Report Card is available at sdschools.sd.gov.
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