Bates Middle, Sumter SC - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Bates Middle

Bates Middle is a regular public school serving grades six through eight in Sumter, a mid-sized city that functions as a regional hub for east-central South Carolina. The school sits within the Sumter 01 district, which covers both the city and county. The student body is predominantly Black, with a substantial White minority and smaller shares of Hispanic and multiracial students. Every enrolled student qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a fact that shapes the support environment and signals high economic need across the school community.

Academically, the picture is mixed. On state assessments, Bates Middle students met proficiency standards in English language arts at rates that fell below half across all three grades, with eighth graders performing somewhat higher than sixth and seventh. Math proficiency was markedly lower, with roughly one in five students reaching the bar in sixth and eighth grades and an even smaller share in seventh grade. Science results, available only for grade six, were similar to the math numbers. Social studies data from several years ago showed close to half of seventh graders meeting standards, but that assessment used different criteria and predates recent cut-score changes in other subjects, making it difficult to draw a current comparison. The overall pattern points to significant academic challenges, particularly in mathematics, where most students are not yet performing at grade level. A parent may want to ask the school about targeted math interventions and how the school supports students who are below proficiency.

Bates Middle is a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation; information on Title I status was not provided. The school’s environment and support services, including staffing ratios, discipline rates, and chronic absenteeism, are not available in the data reviewed, so families should contact the school directly for those details. Because the school only covers middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report.

Sumter itself offers an affordable housing market relative to the state and national benchmarks. Home values and rents are below the averages for South Carolina and the country, and rent consumes a modest share of typical local income. The city’s economy is anchored by Shaw Air Force Base, a regional medical center, and a mix of manufacturing, aerospace, and biotech industries. Public transit exists but the area is car-dependent. Downtown hosts community events and Swan Lake Iris Gardens is a notable civic landmark. The school is one of several middle and high school campuses distributed across the city rather than clustered in a single area.

For families considering Bates Middle, the academic picture is the central consideration. The school serves a high-poverty population, and its test results suggest that many students need additional support to reach grade-level expectations in math and, to a lesser extent, reading and science. The housing market in Sumter is notably more affordable than many parts of the state, which may be a factor for families relocating. The district did not have recent major changes publicly reported. Bates Middle is best suited for families who are aware of the proficiency gaps and who plan to be actively engaged with the school’s academic support resources. Prospective parents should request current information on tutoring, intervention programs, and any special education or English learner services, as those details were not available in the data reviewed.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 618%

School 18% · District 21% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median

Grade 712%

School 12% · District 17% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median

Grade 821%

School 21% · District 17% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 6 pts below state median

English language arts

Grade 637%

School 37% · District 42% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median

Grade 740%

School 40% · District 46% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 15 pts below state median

Grade 842%

School 42% · District 43% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median

Science

Grade 620%

School 20% · District 31% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median

Social studies

Grade 753%

School 53% · District 53%

▼ 12 pts below state median

This schoolSumter 01, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income31%Higher-income59%28 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income33%Higher-income57%24 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income41%Higher-income43%2 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income16%Higher-income24%8 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income7%Higher-income24%17 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income16%Higher-income34%18 pp gap