Summary:
Sumter Central High School is the only high school in Sumter County, Alabama, serving grades 5 through 12 with 526 students in a rural, high-poverty area where 85% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
This school faces severe academic challenges. State rankings place it in the bottom 6% of Alabama high schools, though it has improved slightly from the 1st percentile in 2023-2024 to the 6th percentile in 2025-2026. The graduation rate is 72.1%, nearly 20 points below the state average of 91.5%. Test proficiency is critically low: only 1.69% of 11th graders are proficient in math, 7.14% in English, and 11.86% in science—all far below state averages. A troubling pattern shows proficiency declining as students advance: 5th grade English proficiency is 40.51%, but by 11th grade it drops to just 7.14%. Math is especially weak, with 8th grade math proficiency at 0% in 2025-2026.
Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, affecting 28.5% of students—more than double the state rate of 12%. The student-teacher ratio is 16.9:1, and per-student spending is $11,425. While the school has shown isolated improvements (5th grade English rose from 32.31% to 40.51%, and 11th grade science improved from 7.81% to 11.86%), most metrics remain stagnant or declining. The combination of extreme poverty, high absenteeism, and single-digit proficiency rates in core subjects indicates the school needs comprehensive support beyond just funding. For parents, this school faces significant hurdles, and the unusual 5-12 grade configuration may present additional challenges for younger students sharing a campus with high schoolers.
Thank you for your feedback!