According to ACT, the college readiness of recent high school graduates declined precipitously between 2018 and 2023. In each of the four basic ACT measures—English, reading, math, and science—scores dropped on average 7.5 percent during that period. Overall, only one of five (21 percent) students were considered college ready in 2023, down from 27 percent in 2018. Meanwhile, English readiness dropped from 60 to 51 percent; 46 to 40 percent in reading; 40 to 30 percent in math; and 36 to 31 percent in science.
SOURCE: The ACT Profile Report - National: Graduating Class 2023. 2018 data from The Condition of College and Career Readiness National 2018.