Summary:
In zip code 29154, located in Sumter, SC, there is just one middle school option: Furman Middle, which serves grades 6 through 8 and is part of the Sumter 01 school district.
For parents considering Furman Middle, the most important takeaway is that the school faces significant academic challenges, particularly in math, but shows some bright spots in advanced coursework. The school's overall state ranking is low, consistently placing in the bottom 20% of South Carolina middle schools. Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, with 44.6% of students chronically absent in the 2024-2025 school year—nearly double the state average of 22.3%. This likely plays a large role in the low test scores. In math, proficiency rates are critically low; for example, only 5.7% of 8th graders were proficient in the 2024-2025 school year, compared to 32.4% statewide. However, there is a positive sign: 8th-grade math proficiency jumped to 24% in the 2025-2026 school year, suggesting recent interventions may be working. English Language Arts scores are somewhat better, with 6th-grade proficiency at 37.2%, though still well below the state average of 56.3%.
Interestingly, while general math performance is weak, students in advanced Algebra 1 coursework excel, with 63.64% proficiency on the end-of-course exam—higher than the district average. This suggests a strong advanced math track, though it may only serve a select group of students. The school spends a substantial $12,528 per student, yet the high absenteeism rate indicates that funding alone isn't solving the engagement problem. It's also worth noting that Furman Middle generally performs in line with its district, meaning these challenges are systemic to Sumter 01 rather than isolated to this school. Parents should be aware that while the school has resources and some pockets of success, the overall academic environment is struggling, and attendance is a critical issue to address.
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