The high school admission score threshold in the United States is primarily determined by a combination of high school GPA and standardized test scores such as the SAT or ACT. This threshold varies widely across institutions, with competitive colleges and universities typically requiring higher scores than less selective ones. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average SAT score for students admitted to the most competitive colleges in 2020 was around 1450, while the average ACT score was approximately 33. In contrast, less competitive institutions may have average scores in the range of 1000-1200 for SAT and 20-25 for ACT. The reason for these variations lies in the differing admission criteria and the resources available to each institution. Higher-scoring institutions often have more stringent requirements to ensure they attract the most academically talented students, while lower-scoring institutions may focus more on holistic factors such as extracurricular activities and personal essays.