Middle Schools in Sumter 01

The Sumter 01 school district in South Carolina is home to 6 middle schools serving grades 6-8, with varying levels of academic performance and student demographics. While some schools, like Alice Drive Middle and Hillcrest Middle, have achieved higher rankings and test scores, others, such as Chestnut Oaks Middle, have struggled to meet state standards.

Hillcrest Middle, the highest-ranked school in the district, has consistently outperformed the Sumter 01 district and state averages on standardized tests, particularly in mathematics. This school also has the highest spending per student at $12,837, suggesting a potential correlation between funding and academic performance. In contrast, Chestnut Oaks Middle has the lowest proficiency rates, with only 1-8% of students scoring proficient or better in Mathematics.

The data also reveals significant socioeconomic challenges faced by these schools, as all 6 have 100% of their students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. This high level of economic disadvantage may contribute to the performance disparities observed across the district. However, the success of Alice Drive Middle, which outperformed the district and state averages on the EOCEP/Algebra 1 exam, suggests that targeted interventions and support can help high-poverty schools improve educational outcomes for their students.