Sumter County Middle School

Sumter County Middle School in Americus, GA, serves 549 students in grades 7-8 within the Sumter County district, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom tier of Georgia middle schools over the past decade, currently holding a 1-star rating and ranking 509th out of 578 schools statewide (12th percentile). While this is a slight improvement from its previous 0-star rating, the school has remained in the bottom 10-20% of Georgia middle schools since 2015-2016.

Academic proficiency rates remain significantly below state averages across all subjects. In 2025-2026, 7th grade math proficiency was just 6.1% compared to 42% statewide, and 8th grade math was 11.8% versus 46.3% statewide. Science and social studies also showed substantial gaps, with 8th grade science at 19.4% (state: 29.7%) and social studies at 11.8% (state: 40.2%). Notably, the school's English Language Learner students perform relatively better, ranking in the 30th percentile statewide. A comparison with Sumter County Intermediate School (grades 4-6) reveals a sharp decline in math proficiency between 6th grade (18.2%) and 7th grade (6.1%), suggesting the middle school transition may be a critical intervention point.

There are some positive developments. Chronic absenteeism has dropped dramatically from 31.8% in 2022-2023 to 15.1% in 2025-2026—now below the state average of 17.7%. The school also spends $15,291 per student (above the state average) and maintains a favorable 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. However, neighboring Macon County Middle School, serving a similarly high-poverty population, outperforms Sumter County in 8th grade math (26.3% vs. 11.8%) and science (31.6% vs. 19.4%), though it spends more per student ($19,919) and has higher chronic absenteeism (27.1%). Despite increased funding and improved attendance, Sumter County Middle School's academic performance has remained persistently low, indicating that deeper, systemic interventions may be needed beyond resources and attendance improvements.