SUMTER GRADUATION RATE EXCEEDS STATE AVERAGE
SUMTER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
2680 West County Road 476
Bushnell, Florida 33513
352-793-2315
Press Release
Date: January 19, 2023
Contact: Jessica Christian, K-12 Curriculum Supervisor
Re: SUMTER GRADUATION RATE EXCEEDS STATE AVERAGE
Sumter District Schools are celebrating an improved graduation rate for the 2021-2022 school year. Sumter’s graduation rate of 93.1% is higher than the state average of 87.3%. School Superintendent Rick Shirley said, “Sumter’s graduation rate was ranked 8th in the state for the year.”
He went on to say, “Of course, we want 100% of our students to graduate-but what an accomplishment by students and staff. We still have some work to do but one of our goals is continuous improvement, and that does seem to be happening. I’m very appreciative of a supportive school board and conscientious staff that wants every student to graduate and be enrolled, enlisted or employed.”
Additionally, all subcategories of students ranked above the state average. For example, Sumter’s Students with Disabilities ranked 8th in Florida and graduated 92.3% compared to the state’s 89.5%.
Students who qualified for Free and Reduced Lunch ranked 12th in the state and had a graduation rate of 89.5% compared to the state’s 83.1%.
Sumter’s English Language Learners ranked 2nd in the state and graduated 92.9% compared to the state’s 73%.
Each high school in the district also demonstrated an increase in graduation rates, with all three scoring well above the state average. Shirley said, “Sumter’s students, parents, and teachers worked cooperatively to make these numbers possible.”
