Public schools in Sumter, SC
21 open public schools with an address in Sumter, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
21
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
12,894
21 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.2:1
South Carolina median 13.6:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Sumter public schools
The federal directory lists 21 public schools in Sumter, SC: 12 elementary, 5 middle, 4 high. The 21 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 12,894 students, an average of 614 per school. The largest campus is Sumter High School (2,122 students), and the largest elementary school is Liberty STEAM Charter School (730).
Sumter 01 operates the most schools here (20), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 15.2:1, higher than the statewide school median of 13.6:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
School districts and agencies serving Sumter
Elementary schools in Sumter
12| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Drive Elementary Sumter 01 | PK–05 | 530 | 14.6:1 | |
| Cherryvale Elementary Sumter 01 | PK–05 | 477 | 15.2:1 | |
| Crosswell Drive Elementary Sumter 01 | PK–05 | 481 | 16.5:1 | |
| Kingsbury Elementary Sumter 01 | PK–05 | 514 | 13.5:1 | |
| Lemira Elementary Sumter 01 | PK–05 | 342 | 12.2:1 | |
| Liberty STEAM Charter School SC Public Charter School District · Charter | KG–05 | 730 | 13.8:1 | |
| Millwood Elementary Sumter 01 | PK–05 | 602 | 14.7:1 | |
| Oakland Primary Sumter 01 | PK–01 | 520 | 16:1 | |
| Pocalla Springs Elementary Sumter 01 | PK–05 | 609 | 15.8:1 | |
| R. E. Davis College Preparatory Academy Sumter 01 | PK–08 | 391 | 12.8:1 | |
| Wilder Elementary Sumter 01 | PK–05 | 299 | 12:1 | |
| Willow Drive Elementary Sumter 01 | PK–05 | 504 | 15.7:1 |
Middle schools in Sumter
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Drive Middle Sumter 01 | 06–08 | 783 | 16.7:1 | |
| Bates Middle Sumter 01 | 06–08 | 481 | 13.2:1 | |
| Chestnut Oaks Middle Sumter 01 | 06–08 | 339 | 16.1:1 | |
| Ebenezer Middle Sumter 01 | 06–08 | 352 | 13:1 | |
| Furman Middle Sumter 01 | 06–08 | 700 | 17.1:1 |
High schools in Sumter
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestwood High Sumter 01 | 09–12 | 1,105 | 19.4:1 | |
| Lakewood High Sumter 01 | 09–12 | 1,013 | 17.5:1 | |
| Sumter Career and Technology Center Sumter 01 · Career and Technical School | 09–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Sumter High School Sumter 01 | 09–12 | 2,122 | 17:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White24%
- Hispanic6.4%
- Black64.1%
- Asian1.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial3.8%
Enrollment-weighted across 20 Sumter schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (12,894 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Sumter
How many public schools are in Sumter, SC?
The current NCES directory lists 21 open public schools with a location address in Sumter: 12 elementary, 5 middle, 4 high. Together they reported 12,894 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Sumter?
Schools with an address in Sumter belong to 2 education agencies, led by Sumter 01 (20 schools), SC Public Charter School District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Sumter?
Sumter High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Sumter, with 2,122 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Sumter?
Yes. 1 of the 21 public schools in Sumter are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Liberty STEAM Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Sumter schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Sumter public schools is 15.2:1, higher than the South Carolina school median of 13.6:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Sumter guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby South Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All South Carolina cities