High Schools in Sumter 01

The Sumter 01 district in South Carolina serves three high schools—Sumter High School, Crestwood High, and Lakewood High—covering grades 9 through 12 with a combined enrollment of 4,240 students. The district ranks in the bottom 11% of South Carolina districts, but the three schools show distinct patterns that matter for families.

Sumter High School is the largest and most consistent performer, with the district’s best graduation rate (83.6%) and lowest dropout rate (1.3%). It also leads in English 2 proficiency (73.54%) and U.S. History (57.21%), though its Algebra 1 scores (39.52%) lag the district average. Lakewood High is the improver—it jumped 49 ranking spots over two years and actually beats the district average in English 1 (53.87% vs. 47.37%), yet it has the lowest graduation rate (74.1%) and highest chronic absenteeism (43.9%). Crestwood High is the most volatile, swinging 50 ranking positions between years, and it has the highest student-teacher ratio (19.3) with the lowest per-student spending ($12,307).

The biggest district-wide concern is chronic absenteeism, which ranges from 35.7% at Crestwood to 43.9% at Lakewood—far above the state’s 22.3%. This likely drives the low academic rankings, though all three schools keep dropout rates at or below the state average (2.1%). A notable bright spot: all schools show dramatic improvement from English 1 to English 2 (e.g., Sumter jumps from 42.47% to 73.54%), suggesting real student growth. The district also shows relative strength in U.S. History, with Sumter nearly matching the state average. For parents, Sumter High offers the most stability and best graduation outcomes, Lakewood shows the most upward momentum, and Crestwood carries the most year-to-year uncertainty.