Summary:
In zip code 33513 (Bushnell, FL), there is one high school, South Sumter High School, which serves grades 7 through 12 with a total enrollment of 1,077 students and is part of the Sumter school district.
South Sumter High School presents a mixed picture for parents. On the positive side, the school boasts an exceptionally high graduation rate of 97.6% for the 2024-2025 school year, significantly outperforming both the district (95.4%) and state (92.2%) averages. However, this is paired with a concerning chronic absenteeism rate of 39.4%, which is dramatically higher than the district (26.9%) and state (31.4%) rates. This paradox suggests the school may have strong credit recovery programs that allow frequently absent students to still earn diplomas, but it raises questions about consistent academic engagement. The school also shows a stark contrast in academic performance: it excels in Biology 1 with 76% proficiency (above the state average), but struggles significantly in Algebra 1 with only 34% proficiency (far below the district average of 79% and state average of 63%).
Overall, South Sumter High School ranks 366th out of 838 Florida high schools (56th percentile), earning a 3-star rating. While the school is effective at keeping students on track to graduate, it consistently underperforms its own district in nearly every academic subject except Biology 1. The school has a moderate level of economic disadvantage, with 41.88% of students receiving free or reduced lunch, and a student-teacher ratio of 18.2:1 with per-student spending of $13,273. Parents should note the school's academic strengths in science but significant weaknesses in math, as well as the high chronic absenteeism rate that may impact student learning outcomes.
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