Enrollment
700
South Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Sumter, SC
Furman Middle
Federal NCES profile for Furman Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 450390201078
👥 S:T ratio 18
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 53
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Furman Middle earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of South Carolina schools.
- #3 of 5
- middle schools in Sumter · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.6:1
- large classes for South Carolina
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Furman Middle has class sizes larger than 97% of South Carolina schools. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Furman Middle ranks #3 of 5 middle schools in Sumter, SC.
School address
District: Sumter 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450390201078 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.6:1
vs 14.3:1 South Carolina avg
+44% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 74.0% South Carolina avg
+35% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Furman Middle compares with South Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Furman Middle
Furman Middle is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Sumter, South Carolina, enrolling 700 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20.6:1 is larger than about 97% of South Carolina schools and 44% above the 14.3:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 100.0% lands close to the South Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 700 puts it in the larger third of South Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,214 scored South Carolina schools.
Among 288 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need South Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #217, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (58%) and White (30%) (diversity index 57/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 233 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 57.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Sumter 01 spends $11,507 per pupil, 21% below the South Carolina average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 19.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 460 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 700 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 29 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Sumter's middle schools, it stands alongside Alice Drive Middle (783 students): Furman Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20.6:1 vs 16.3:1).
Sumter 01 also operates Sumter High School (2,122 students) and Crestwood High (1,105 students) alongside Furman Middle.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Furman Middle compares
Furman Middle on the metrics families compare, against South Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Carolina | South Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.6:1 | ▲ 44% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 35% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 700 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.6:1
Leaner classes than 14% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
700
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% above the South Carolina average of 74.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.6:1
students per teacher
- 44% above state mean
Top 97% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
57.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,507
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $14,558
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 233 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
187
in-school suspensions + 273 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 26.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 65.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 29 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 58.0%
White 29.7%
Hispanic or Latino 5.9%
Two or More 5.4%
Asian 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: African American at 58.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.9, Furman Middle is more mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Sumter 01, which includes Furman Middle.
$11,507
Per student
-21%
vs South Carolina
Avg $14,558
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.0%
State 53.3%
Federal 19.7%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Furman Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Crestwood High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lakewood High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Alice Drive Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pocalla Springs Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Furman Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,122
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,105
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,013
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 783
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 609
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar middle schools in Sumter
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Alice Drive Middle
Standard public school
783 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Bates Middle
Standard public school
481 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Ebenezer Middle
Standard public school
352 students 16:1 students per teacher
Chestnut Oaks Middle
Standard public school
339 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of South Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~700 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Furman Middle's federal record.
- Compare Furman Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Sumter 01's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Furman Middle
How many students attend Furman Middle?
Furman Middle has 700 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Sumter, SC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Furman Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Furman Middle is 20.6:1, which is 44% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 31% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Furman Middle?
100.0% of students at Furman Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Furman Middle?
The largest demographic group at Furman Middle is African American at 58.0% of enrollment, in Sumter, SC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Furman Middle?
Furman Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Furman Middle rank among middle schools in Sumter?
By Resource Investment Index, Furman Middle ranks #3 of 5 middle schools in Sumter, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Sumter on the city page.
Is Furman Middle a good school?
Furman Middle earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of South Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Sumter 01?
Besides Furman Middle, Sumter 01 also operates Sumter High School (2,122 students), Crestwood High (1,105 students), and Lakewood High (1,013 students). See the Sumter 01 district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.