Total enrollment
14,608
-989 (-6%) vs SY 2020-21
Sumter County
South Carolina · Public K-12
Sumter County reports 27 public K-12 schools to NCES, against a population of 104,725, with an average school size of 541 students. By grade band, the county runs 16 elementary, 6 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Sumter County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
26
+1 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Sumter County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In South Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 14,608 | #16 of 44 | #607 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 26 | #16 of 44 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.5:1 | #38 of 44 | #1,939 of 2,655 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 53.5% | #32 of 42 | #926 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Sumter County school rankings
Residents
104,725
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
27
3 districts
Enrollment
14,608
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$56,693
Below South Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
·
Enrollment-weighted
Elementary
16
7,341 students
Middle
6
3,020 students
High
5
4,247 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Sumter 01
13,871 students · 3 districts in Sumter County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Sumter County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
23.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
12.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.9%
civilian labor
Median age
38
23.7% under 18
Test scores in Sumter County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 21 schools ranked. South Carolina state average: 59.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Alice Drive Elementary· 71.0%
- Liberty STEAM Charter School· 62.4%
- Shaw Heights Elementary· 60.5%
- Millwood Elementary· 57.5%
- Alice Drive Middle· 56.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Rafting Creek Elementary· 19.5%
- R. E. Davis College Preparatory Academy· 28.7%
- Chestnut Oaks Middle· 30.6%
- Lemira Elementary· 30.7%
- Cherryvale Elementary· 31.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter High School | Sumter | High | 09-12 | 2,122 | · |
| Crestwood High | Sumter | High | 09-12 | 1,105 | · |
| Lakewood High | Sumter | High | 09-12 | 1,013 | · |
| Alice Drive Middle | Sumter | Middle | 06-08 | 783 | · |
| Liberty STEAM Charter School | Sumter | Elementary | KG-04 | 730 | · |
| Furman Middle | Sumter | Middle | 06-08 | 700 | · |
| Pocalla Springs Elementary | Sumter | Elementary | PK-05 | 609 | · |
| Millwood Elementary | Sumter | Elementary | PK-05 | 602 | · |
| Alice Drive Elementary | Sumter | Elementary | PK-05 | 530 | · |
| Oakland Primary | Sumter | Elementary | PK-01 | 520 | · |
| Kingsbury Elementary | Sumter | Elementary | PK-05 | 514 | · |
| Willow Drive Elementary | Sumter | Elementary | PK-05 | 504 | · |
| Bates Middle | Sumter | Middle | 06-08 | 481 | · |
| Crosswell Drive Elementary | Sumter | Elementary | PK-05 | 481 | · |
| Cherryvale Elementary | Sumter | Elementary | PK-05 | 477 | · |
| High Hills Elementary | Shaw Air Force Base | Elementary | 04-05 | 435 | · |
| Shaw Heights Elementary | Shaw Air Force Base | Elementary | 02-03 | 404 | · |
| R. E. Davis College Preparatory Academy | Sumter | Elementary | PK-08 | 391 | · |
| Manchester Elementary | Pinewood | Elementary | PK-05 | 378 | · |
| Hillcrest Middle | Dalzell | Middle | 06-08 | 365 | · |
| Ebenezer Middle | Sumter | Middle | 06-08 | 352 | · |
| Lemira Elementary | Sumter | Elementary | PK-05 | 342 | · |
| Chestnut Oaks Middle | Sumter | Middle | 06-08 | 339 | · |
| Wilder Elementary | Sumter | Elementary | PK-05 | 299 | · |
| Rafting Creek Elementary | Rembert | Elementary | PK-05 | 125 | · |
| Lewis High | Rembert | High | 09-12 | 7 | · |
| Sumter Career and Technology Center | Sumter | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Sumter County
About Sumter County
Across the middle-population South Carolina county of Sumter County of about 104,725 residents, the public-school footprint covers 27 schools and about 14,608 students.
In context, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $56,693, roughly 24% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 13%.
Looking at the level breakdown, Sumter County comprises 16 elementary schools (7,341 students), 6 middle schools (3,020), and 5 high schools (4,247).
Sumter 01 is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 13,871 students across Sumter County.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment fell 6%: 15,597 students in SY 2020-21 versus 14,608 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 25 to 26 across the same 4-year window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Sumter County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data