Sat Oct 04 10:50:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Florida SAT Scores Rebound After Years of Decline, But Still Lag National Average**

**Orlando, FL -** After four consecutive years of decline, Florida’s average SAT scores have seen a significant increase this year, rising to 970 out of 1600, a 22-point jump from 2024. The increase mirrors a national trend, with the national average SAT score at 1029, according to the College Board.

While the improvement is a welcome sign, the state’s scores remain below pre-pandemic levels, with a 2017 average of 1017. Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted student college readiness nationwide.

Adding complexity, Florida’s SAT participation rate decreased from 95% to 87% this year. Some experts speculate this drop could be a factor in the score increase, suggesting that potentially lower-scoring students may have opted out of taking the test.

Despite these factors, Florida continues to perform well compared to states with high SAT participation rates. Among ten such states, Florida ranks 3rd in average English scores and 2nd in English college readiness. In math, the state ranks 4th in average score and 5th in college readiness. High participation states tend to have lower scores overall, as a broader range of students take the test.

On a positive note, the percentage of Florida test-takers meeting the SAT’s “college ready” benchmarks increased in both math (from 26% to 29%) and reading (from 53% to 59%).

“Florida students continue to demonstrate excellence, and this year’s increase in average SAT scores is a clear reflection of the hard work of our educators, families, and students,” said Nathalia Medina, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education, crediting Governor DeSantis’ education policies.

The data also reveals a stark disparity based on family income. Only 13% of Florida SAT takers with a median family income of $55,000 met college readiness benchmarks in both math and reading, averaging a score of 884. In contrast, 54% of students from families earning over $117,610 met those same benchmarks, averaging a score of 1112.

Nearly 40% of all Florida SAT test-takers sent their scores to the University of Central Florida, making it the most popular destination for score submissions.

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