High Schools in Sumter

The Sumter area of Florida is home to two high schools, South Sumter High School and Wildwood Middle/High School, both of which serve students in grades 9-12. While the schools share some similarities, such as strong 4-year graduation rates, they also exhibit distinct differences in their academic performance, student demographics, and socioeconomic factors.

South Sumter High School is the higher-ranked of the two, earning a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger and ranking 336 out of 807 Florida high schools. The school's students perform above the state average in several End-of-Course (EOC) and FAST assessments, particularly in Geometry, Biology 1, and US History. In contrast, Wildwood Middle/High School has a more diverse student population, with a nearly even split between White and African American students, and its academic performance is more mixed, with some areas exceeding the Sumter district and state averages, while others fall behind.

Both schools maintain impressive 4-year graduation rates, with South Sumter High School at 95.4% and Wildwood Middle/High School at 97.9%. However, they face challenges with high chronic absenteeism rates, particularly at Wildwood Middle/High School at 45.5%. Additionally, both schools serve a population with greater economic challenges, as evidenced by their high free/reduced lunch rates, which may impact academic outcomes.