Sioux Falls students continue to beat state and national peers in ACT scores, while comprising nearly 15% of all South Dakota students who take the exam. 

The overall Sioux Falls School District ACT average composite score of 22.8 (on a scale of 1 to 36) was higher than both the South Dakota state average (21.8) and the national average (21.1) for the senior class of 2012.  The District also experienced an 8.5% increase in participation from 2011 to 2012.  Additionally, the District had a strong increase in participation by diverse populations. For example, 41.0% more Asian students participated; 31.5% more Black/African American students took the test; 30.0% more Two or More Races-identified students took the ACT; and 12.5% more Hispanic students participated.