Here comes the next generation of leaders... ACT scores dropped for the 6th year in a row, to now reach the lowest level ever measured for the ~1.4 million high school students taking the test this year, at a 19.5 average. For comparison, the ACT average as recently as 2017 was at 21.0, with 2 million taking the test that year, and the average had hovered between 20.7-21.2 for the 25 years prior.
(Some sites mention lowest since 1991, but the test was completely rebased in 1990/1991, increasing average scores by ~2 full points vs. older harder version -- so on comparable basis, this is by far the lowest scores ever recorded).
www.cbsnews.com
The proportion of what ACT calls “Covid cohort seniors” who did not meet any of the benchmark scores considered necessary to succeed in college reached a historic high of 43%.
As the test is generally only taken by those looking to go to college, having 43% of this subset of high schoolers failing all four of English, science, reading, and math isn't exactly promising. (Notably, meanwhile, average GPA scores continue to increase with non-stop grade inflation).
(Some sites mention lowest since 1991, but the test was completely rebased in 1990/1991, increasing average scores by ~2 full points vs. older harder version -- so on comparable basis, this is by far the lowest scores ever recorded).

US students ACT test scores drop to new 30 year low
Scores show a lack of student preparedness for college-level coursework

As the test is generally only taken by those looking to go to college, having 43% of this subset of high schoolers failing all four of English, science, reading, and math isn't exactly promising. (Notably, meanwhile, average GPA scores continue to increase with non-stop grade inflation).