2024 Average ACT® Scores by State
Wondering how your school’s ACT scores compare to state and national averages? We’ve compiled a list of the latest 2024 average ACT scores to help you see exactly where your school stands.
Got your school’s ACT scores back and wondering how you did? Check out our lists of the most recent ACT average scores to see how your school compares with state and national averages. Understanding how your school is doing compared to others can provide valuable insight into your performance and how you can improve.
Keep reading to see how your school stacks up and learn how Horizon Education can help you understand your scores — and boost them.
The ACT Scoring System: A Quick Overview
The ACT has 4 sections: English, math, reading, and science. Each of these sections is scored on a scale from 1 to 36. The ACT composite score is the average of these four section scores, also ranging from 1 to 36, and serves as a key indicator of overall performance. In addition, there is an optional Writing section, which is scored separately on a scale of 2 to 12 and does not factor into the composite score.
Which States Require the ACT?
Currently, 11 states require juniors to take the ACT, with six requiring the Writing section and five without. Three states require either the ACT or the SAT, and nine states had 100% ACT participation in 2024. Here’s a breakdown:
States Requiring the ACT (With Writing)
States Requiring the ACT (Without Writing)
States that Require Either the ACT or the SAT
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
States with 100% ACT Participation Rates
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Wyoming
ACT College Readiness Benchmarks
Before we dive into the data, let’s take a look at an important data point that the ACT provides: the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks. These benchmarks help gauge a student's likelihood of success in college-level courses. Achieving the following scores gives you at least a 50% chance of earning a B or higher, or a 75% chance of earning a C or higher, in the corresponding college course:
National Averages
In 2024, roughly 1.4 million students across the United States took the ACT. The national average ACT composite score was 19.4. 51% of test takers met the English benchmark of 18, 29% met the math benchmark of 22, 40% met the reading benchmark of 22, and 30% met the science benchmark of 23.
State Averages
Here is a list of the most recent average ACT scores by state. Take a look to see how your school stacks up against state averages, as well as ACT College Readiness Benchmarks! All this data is pulled from the latest ACT reporting.
Key Highlights
Top Performers
- Composite: Washington, D.C. had the highest average composite score at 26.7 — 7.3 points above the national average. This was followed by California and Connecticut at 26.5 and Massachusetts at 26.1.
- English: Connecticut led with 90% of students meeting the English benchmark of 18.
- Math: Connecticut led again, with 84% of students meeting the math benchmark of 22.
- Reading: Washington, D.C. led with 82% of students meeting the reading benchmark of 22.
- Science: Connecticut topped this section, with 73% of students meeting the science benchmark of 23.
Lowest Performers
- Composite: Unfortunately, Nevada had the lowest average composite score at 17.2, followed by Oklahoma at 17.6 and Arizona, Hawaii, and Mississippi at 17.7.
- English: Nevada had the lowest performance in English, with 37% of students meeting the benchmark.
- Math: Nevada and Oklahoma had the lowest performance in math, with 15% of students meeting the benchmark.
- Reading: Nevada had the lowest performance in reading, with 25% of students meeting the benchmark.
- Science: Mississippi and Oklahoma had the lowest performance in science, with 17% of students meeting the benchmark.
Participation Rates Matter!
You may notice that states with the highest participation rates (Nevada, Oklahoma, etc.) often report lower average scores. This is because these states have a more broad, diverse group of students taking the exam, often for state graduation requirements. In contrast, states with lower participation rates tend to have higher scores, as the ACT is usually taken by students who need it for college admissions and are more academically prepared.
To make a fairer and more accurate comparison, let’s compare the scores of states with 100% participation rates.
States with 100% Participation and High Scores
Nine states had 100% participation rates in 2024. Here’s how those states performed, and who came out on top:
- Composite: Wyoming had the highest average composite score at 19.1, followed by Tennessee at 18.8 and Kentucky at 18.6.
- English: Tennessee had the highest percentage of students meeting the English benchmark at 50%.
- Math: Wyoming had the highest percentage of students meeting the math benchmark at 26%.
- Reading: Wyoming led in reading, with 37% of students meeting the benchmark.
- Science: Wyoming also led in science, with 28% of students meeting the benchmark.
Out of these nine states, Wyoming and Tennessee stand out as top performers. Wyoming had the highest average composite score and the highest percentage of students meeting the ACT benchmarks in math, reading, and science. Tennessee edged out Wyoming for the number one spot in English and came in second in many of the other sections. Kentucky gets an honorable mention as well for falling third in many of the sections. Way to go, Wyoming, Tennessee, and Kentucky!
How Do Your School’s ACT Scores Stack Up?
If you’re falling behind state or national averages, we can help. At Horizon Education, we partner directly with your school or district to turn your ACT scores around. Our ACT preparation program includes benchmark assessments that simulate the actual ACT experience, targeted professional development for educators, and a personalized curriculum complete with interactive lesson plans, practice sets, and video explanations.
On top of that, we help you actually understand and improve your ACT scores. Our detailed score reports give you clear insights into performance, helping you make data-driven decisions that support interventions and ensure success on the ACT. Our data is also useful for all your state reporting needs.
Schools using our curriculum typically see an average improvement of +4 points on the ACT.
Ready to boost your school’s ACT scores? Get a demo of the Horizon platform to see how we can help your students be prepared for the ACT!
