Summary:
Sumter County, Florida, is home to two high schools—South Sumter High School and Wildwood Middle/High School—serving grades 6 through 12 in a district ranked 26th out of 70 in the state.
South Sumter High School stands out as the stronger overall performer. It holds a 3-star rating and ranks in the 56th percentile statewide, compared to Wildwood’s 2-star rating and 39th percentile ranking. South Sumter boasts a 97.6% graduation rate, well above the state average of 92.2%, and leads in key subjects like Biology (76% proficient vs. 54%) and 10th-grade English Language Arts (61% vs. 47%). However, it struggles significantly with Algebra 1, where only 34% of students are proficient—far below the district average of 79%. Wildwood Middle/High School excels in Algebra 1, with 68% proficiency, but lags in most other academic areas. Notably, Wildwood spends $2,226 more per student and has a smaller student-to-teacher ratio (16.2 vs. 18.2), yet these advantages do not translate into better outcomes, highlighting a spending paradox.
Chronic absenteeism is a critical concern for both schools. Wildwood’s rate of 44.5% and South Sumter’s rate of 39.4% far exceed the state average of 31.4%, likely hindering academic progress. South Sumter shows positive momentum, with improving state rankings and rising proficiency in several subjects. Wildwood’s performance is more inconsistent, with sharp drops in areas like 8th-grade Science. For parents, South Sumter High School offers stronger overall academics and a higher graduation rate, while Wildwood Middle/High School provides a notable strength in Algebra 1 but faces greater challenges with attendance and consistency.
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