South Dakota Students Outperformed National ACT Average
Graduates in South Dakota earned an average composite score of 21.1, surpassing the national mark of 19.2.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Secondary Education
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South Dakota students from the graduating class of 2026 achieved an average ACT composite score of 21.1, which outpaced the national average of 19.2. During this same testing cycle, three students in the state reached the pinnacle of performance by earning a perfect score of 36.
Why it matters
Higher test scores can influence college admissions and scholarship opportunities for students across the state. These results provide families with a clear benchmark of academic performance for their children compared to national peers.
For the class of 2026, 56% of South Dakota graduates participated in the ACT assessment. The average composite score of 21.1 outperformed the national average of 19.2, with three students achieving a perfect score of 36.
The players
South Dakota Department of Education
This state-level government agency oversees school standards and curricula, regularly releasing performance data to hold districts accountable.
The details
The state assessment process required public school juniors in South Dakota to take the ACT during the spring of 2026. By utilizing a common exam across the state's student population, education officials can standardize academic performance measurement. This testing cycle ultimately determined the performance metrics for the class of 2026.
Timeline
Public school juniors completed their ACT assessments during the spring of 2026.
The Class of 2026 graduates were the cohort measured for these test results.
The Department of Education expects to release its accountability report card in the fall of 2026.
The Home Front
Statewide assessment scores serve as a primary metric under the Every Student Succeeds Act for monitoring secondary school effectiveness. These results often influence district-level resource allocation and inform long-term academic planning for families across the state.
Families should review their student's individual score report to understand where they rank relative to the state and national averages. Parents can use these benchmarks to identify specific academic areas for enrichment before the start of the next school term.
The takeaway
Maintaining consistent ACT scores remains a key indicator of college readiness for high school students. Parents should keep their student's official testing results filed with other important school documentation for use during future college applications.
What happens next
The South Dakota Department of Education will release its official accountability report card for the 2026 academic year later this fall.
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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