Key Points:
• DCSD students had an average composite score of 22.3, a slight increase from last year.
• Georgia students outperformed the national average on the ACT for the ninth consecutive year.
DeKalb County School District (DCSD) students outperformed the national and state averages on the ACT, with the district experiencing an overall increase in scores from last year, according a statement from Carla Parker, DCSD spokeswoman.
DCSD students had an average composite score of 22.3, a slight increase from last year’s score of 21.1, and higher than the national (19.4) and state (21.4) average composite scores.
“The rise in our ACT scores is a formidable reflection of our students’ hard work, our teachers’ unwavering dedication, and our DCSD community’s shared commitment to academic excellence,” Norman C. Sauce, acting superintendent, said in a statement. “This achievement is more than just a number. It represents expanded opportunities and brighter futures for every student in our district.”
| Subject | DeKalb (average) | Georgia (average) | National (average) |
| English | 22 | 20.6 | 18.4 |
| Mathematics | 21.3 | 20.7 | 18.9 |
| Reading | 23.6 | 22.4 | 20 |
| Science | 22.1 | 21.4 | 19.6 |
| Composite | 22.3 | 21.4 | 19.4 |
DCSD students surpassed last year’s scores in every individual subject and exceeded the national and state average, recording their highest score in reading.
Overall, Georgia students’ average composite score was 21.4 — an increase from 21.2 in 2024, while the national average remained steady at 19.4. Georgia students outperformed the national average on the ACT for the ninth consecutive year, with their average composite score increasing even as the national average remained steady.
“We are nearing a decade of Georgia students beating the national average on the ACT, with similar results on the SAT,” Richard Woods, state school superintendent, said in a statement. “Despite the challenges public schools across the country have faced over the last decade, our students continue to outperform the national average—our teachers, school leaders, families, and students should take great pride in that accomplishment.”
All scores are based on 2025 high school graduates who took the ACT at any point during their sophomore, junior, or senior years in high school.
