Sumter

The Sumter school district in Florida consists of 11 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 2 high schools, and 4 alternative schools. The district serves a diverse student population with varying academic outcomes. The standout school in the district is Villages Charter School, which ranks 4 out of 5 stars on SchoolDigger and outperforms the district and state averages across a variety of metrics. This includes a 100% 4-year graduation rate, low chronic absenteeism, and strong test scores. In contrast, schools with higher percentages of minority students and students from low-income backgrounds, such as Sumter Prep Academy and Wildwood Middle/High School, tend to have lower academic outcomes.

Across the Sumter district, graduation rates are generally high, averaging 97.7%, but chronic absenteeism is a major concern, ranging from 17% at Villages Charter to over 45% at Wildwood Middle/High. Test scores also vary widely, with Villages Charter leading the district, while other high-performing schools include Lake Panasoffkee Elementary and Bushnell Elementary. Factors like per-student spending and student-teacher ratios appear to play a significant role in school quality, with higher-performing schools investing more resources per student and maintaining smaller class sizes.

Overall, the Sumter district demonstrates a mix of high-performing and low-performing schools, with socioeconomic factors heavily influencing student outcomes. Addressing chronic absenteeism, ensuring equitable funding, and providing additional support for disadvantaged student populations could help improve academic performance across the district.