South Dakota’s graduating class of 2024 earned an average ACT composite score of 21.1, well above the national average of 19.4, and the highest among neighboring states. The ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States which includes four academic skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science.
Fifty-eight percent of South Dakota’s 2024 graduates took the ACT. Of those who indicated their first choice of postsecondary education, 74 percent preferred colleges or universities in South Dakota.
“These numbers indicate that schools in South Dakota are doing a solid job of preparing students to attend college,” said Secretary of Education Joe Graves. “The fact that an overwhelming majority of our graduating seniors are electing to attend college in the state speaks to the quality of postsecondary education in South Dakota, and to the opportunities available to students after they graduate.”
The average score of 21.1 matches the average score of last year’s South Dakota graduates. Other points of interest include:
- A total of 6,097 South Dakota students took the ACT; of those, seven earned a top score of 36.
- Twenty-eight percent of South Dakota test-takers met college readiness benchmarks in each of the four academic skill areas, as compared to 20 percent of students nationally.
- Of those students who indicated a specific planned educational major, the most common area of preferred study in the state was health science and technologies, followed by business.
Currently, the ACT is optional for students who are considering pursuing postsecondary education. Beginning in the spring of 2026, all South Dakota juniors 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.
Average Composite ACT Scores – South Dakota vs. National*
| Year | South Dakota | National |
| 2020 | 21.7 | 20.6 |
| 2021 | 21.6 | 20.3 |
| 2022 | 21.5 | 19.8 |
| 2023 | 21.1 | 19.5 |
| 2024 | 21.1 | 19.4 |