South Dakota Releases Annual School Report Card: Math Proficiency 45%, Graduation Rate 88% a 14-Year High
The South Dakota Department of Education released its annual State Report Card on November 6, covering 147 school districts, 645 public schools and more than 135,000 K-12 students. For the 2025-26 school year, math proficiency, attendance and on-time graduation rose slightly statewide, while English language arts and science scores slipped. On mathematics assessments in grades 3-8 and 11, 45% of students statewide met or exceeded grade-level expectations, up one point from last year; ELA proficiency fell two points to 50%.
The Class of 2026 posted an average ACT score of 21.1, nearly two points above the national average of 19.2, and 88% of students graduated on time, the highest rate in more than 14 years and up from 86%. The state's high school completion rate was 91%. Education Secretary Joseph Graves noted that spring 2026 was the first year the ACT served as the standardised test for all 11th graders in school accountability.
(Source: South Dakota Department of Education)
Source: South Dakota Department of Education
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：南达科他州议会大厦，位于皮埃尔。作者：w_lemay，CC BY-SA 2.0，取自 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. By w_lemay. CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
