Sumter Times

Sumter County School District had a decrease in student enrollment during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Florida Department of Education. Overall, there was a total of 719 students enrolled in the district in the academic year.

Data reveals that the majority of students welcomed in the 2023-24 school year were white, representing 59% of the Sumter County School District total enrollment.

Additionally, the largest portion of students in the district are enrolled in elementary school grades, making up 46% of the total enrollment.

Sumter County School District covers 11 schools within Sumter County, with its main office in Bushnell.

Among the 11 schools in Sumter County School District, Villages Charter School recorded the highest enrollment of 3,728 students in the 2023-24 school year.

Meanwhile, Florida continues to face a teacher shortage in the 2023-24 school year. Despite some improvements, the state reported nearly 4,800 instructional vacancies at the beginning of the year. According to the Florida Department of Education, core subjects such as English, reading, and math among the areas with the highest demand for teachers.

According to the National Education Association (NEA), Florida ranked 50th in the U.S. for teacher pay in the 2022-23 school year, with salaries lower than they were a decade ago when adjusted for inflation.

Governor DeSantis's budget for the 2024-25 school year allocates nearly $38 billion for education, with $1.25 billion dedicated to teachers' salaries and other instructional personnel.

School	Total Enrollment
Villages Charter School	3,728
South Sumter High School	1,058
South Sumter Middle School	879
Webster Elementary School	738
Wildwood Middle/ High School	737
Bushnell Elementary School	719
Wildwood Elementary School	658
Lake Panasoffkee Elementary School	589
Sumter Prep Academy	90
Sumter County Virtual Instruction Program	0
Sumter Virtual Franchise	0