INDIANA – New SAT results for the 2024-25 academic year show a slight improvement in college readiness among Hoosier high school students in reading and writing, but math scores continue to lag significantly. Over 81,000 Indiana students, primarily juniors, took the college entrance exam.
The percentage of students meeting or exceeding the college-ready benchmark in evidence-based reading and writing rose to 54.5%, up from 51.8% the previous year. However, math scores remained a concern, with only 25.2% of test-takers achieving college readiness. This marks a decline from 2023 and 2024, where 30.7% and 25% of students, respectively, met the math benchmark.
Overall, about 24.5% of Indiana students met the readiness benchmark in both subjects, a marginal 0.3% increase from last year but still 4% lower than in 2023. Lynn Schemel, Chief Academic Officer for the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), acknowledged the “large number of students in that below-college-ready group” and stressed the need for further improvement.
The IDOE is implementing new instructional resources and educational screeners to enhance foundational math skills, particularly for students in grades K-2 and 9-12.
During a discussion of the results, some members of the State Board of Education questioned the effectiveness of the SAT as a sole measure of progress for all Indiana students, especially those not planning to attend college.
Indiana Education Secretary Katie Jenner noted that SAT scores will likely evolve with the state’s new high school diploma model, set to take effect by 2029, which offers diverse pathways to graduation. While juniors will still be required to take the SAT, scores will only be used for graduation if a student selects specific college-bound or employment-readiness tracks.
