S.C. ACT scores increase from 2018 to 2019

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The average composite score for S.C. public school graduates taking the ACT test in 2019 increased to 18.6 from 18.0 in 2018.

In addition, the percentage of graduates meeting three or four ACT college readiness benchmarks rose to 24% in 2019 from 21% in 2018, according to a news release from the S.C. Department of Education.

The ACT, paid for by the state and administered during a designated school day or a Saturday, was taken by 33,834 students, according to the release.

“While we no longer require schools to administer the ACT to every student, we are still seeing a large portion of students taking college readiness exams without having the proper coursework to be successful,” S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said in the release. “We must do a better job of making students and parents aware of the impact a challenging course schedule has on their chance for success on these assessment while continuing to raise expectations and rigor in the classroom for all students.”

ACT school, district and state data is available in an online report.