On South Dakota's Smarter Balanced tests, Grade 11 ELA is reported on a scale from 2102 to 3032 (2019 and 2021 to 2025), and each score falls into one of 4 performance levels. Reaching Level 3, at 2583 or above, is the state's proficiency line.
| Level | Score range | What it means | Statewide 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2102–2492 | The lowest level, well below the state standard | 15% |
| Level 2 | 2493–2582 | Approaching the state standard | 20% |
| Level 3 | 2583–2681 | Meeting the state standard (the proficiency line) | 35% |
| Level 4 | 2682–3032 | The highest level, above the state standard | 29% |
Statewide in 2025, about 65% of the students counted for Grade 11 ELA reached Level 3 or Level 4. The bar above shows the share at each level (left = lowest).
These numbers are the South Dakota public school students in grade 11 who were enrolled for the full school year, tested in ELA and math (Smarter Balanced) and science (the SDSA), by the school where they tested, with the alternate assessment counted in. South Dakota hides a school's whole row when it is small. For 2019 it published school rows only, so that year's district and statewide figures add up the schools it did not hide.
More on who is counted, and how: see how we count.
A score's meaning depends on where it lands in the ranges above, and on how it compares to other students who took the same test. Our free tool turns a Grade 11 ELA score into an estimated percentile versus the school, district and the whole state, so you can see where a score stands, not just its level.
Look up a Grade 11 ELA percentile →