Summary:
In Sumter County, Florida, there is one middle school, South Sumter Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 with an enrollment of 890 students in a district that is part of the broader Sumter area.
South Sumter Middle School is a school of extremes, excelling in advanced coursework while facing significant challenges. The school stands out for its exceptional advanced math program, with 100% of students proficient in the Geometry End-of-Course (EOC) exam and 94% proficient in Algebra 1, far exceeding both district and state averages. However, performance in standard grade-level math is inconsistent, with only 53% of 6th graders proficient compared to 68% district-wide. The school also shows strength in science and civics, with 69% of 8th graders proficient in science (vs. 52% statewide) and 86% proficient in civics (vs. 77% statewide). Its state ranking has been relatively stable, placing in the 67th percentile (405th out of 1,216 schools) for the 2025-2026 school year.
The most pressing issue is a chronic absenteeism rate of 35.7%, which is significantly higher than both the district average of 26.9% and the state average of 31.4%. This high absenteeism likely contributes to the inconsistent performance in standard subjects and creates a gap between the school's high-achieving advanced students and the rest of the student body. With a student-teacher ratio of 17.1:1 and per-student spending of $12,832, the school has resources to address these challenges, but the primary focus should be on reducing absenteeism to improve overall academic consistency across all grade levels and subjects.
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