The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Science. The lowest is 62% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on South Sumter Middle School
South Sumter Middle School serves sixth through eighth grade in Webster, a small rural town in Sumter County that sits roughly equidistant between the Orlando and Tampa metros. The school is a regular public school within the Sumter County School District, not a charter, and draws students from a community whose agricultural roots, weekly flea market, and quiet weekday rhythm define everyday life here.
The enrollment sits in a range that is substantial for a middle school, with students distributed fairly evenly across the three grade levels. A majority of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which places this among schools where economic need is a real factor in daily life. The largest racial or ethnic group is white, with Hispanic students making up the next largest share and Black students a smaller but meaningful share of enrollment. Data on students with IEPs and English learners was not available, so families with children in those categories should ask the school directly about support structures.
On Florida's FAST assessments for the most recent school year, the academic picture varies considerably by grade and subject. In ELA, proficiency rates are fairly consistent across all three grades, holding at roughly similar levels and clustering in what could be characterized as a moderate range statewide. Math tells a more uneven story: sixth graders land in a solidly middle range, seventh graders drop to a notably lower rate, and eighth graders post a rate that stands among the higher results in the building. The eighth-grade science results on the Florida Statewide Science Assessment are the strongest numbers reported, reflecting well above the midpoint. Multi-year trend data was not available, so it is not possible to say whether these patterns represent improvement, stability, or decline. The seventh-grade math rate, in particular, is something a parent may want to raise with the school to understand what support is in place for students who are not yet at proficiency.
A meaningful facilities development is underway. The district broke ground on a new classroom building at South Sumter Middle in late 2023 or early 2024, part of a capital response to enrollment growth that had left the school relying on portable classrooms. That construction represents a direct, lasting change to the physical environment families and students experience here.
The school's location in Webster matters for families thinking about where to live. Home values in this zip code are meaningfully below both the Florida state benchmark and the national benchmark, and have been essentially flat year over year, making Webster one of the more accessible entry points in a state where housing costs have risen sharply in many markets. Renters will find that rental cost data was not available for this specific area. The broader Sumter County context is one of active growth: a large land purchase for a planned residential community near Webster signals that the school's enrollment and surrounding neighborhood could shift noticeably in coming years, and the district has been building capacity in anticipation of that.
The comparison data for this school was not usable for positioning relative to peers because Sumter County has only one public school district, which makes meaningful within-county comparisons impossible by design. Chronic absenteeism and graduation rate data do not apply here because this is a middle school, not a high school. Program offerings were not available in the data, so the depth of elective, arts, or enrichment coursework is a gap worth investigating directly with the school.
Webster itself is a quiet, car-dependent community where the dominant civic rhythm outside of school involves Monday market days at the county's sprawling flea and farmers market, agricultural land, and small-town services. Families who value rural setting, relatively affordable housing, and a school that is physically expanding to meet growing demand will find the context here coherent. Those looking for detailed information on staffing ratios, attendance patterns, or specific program offerings will need to contact South Sumter Middle directly.
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