Sumter superintendent outlines 6% growth goal as 13 schools remain underperforming

Superintendent William Wright on Feb. 25 told the Sumter School District Board of Trustees that he has set three central goals for the year — student achievement, facilities and human capital — including an explicit target to “improve student proficiency by a minimum of 6%” at every school.

The superintendent said the 6% target is intended to produce measurable growth and that district staff will track formative and summative assessment data, attendance and behavioral measures. “We are also working to enhance our ability to analyze data derived from formative and summative assessments to improve student performance,” Wright said.

The warning nut graf: The presentation came as the district’s academic team reported that 13 schools were designated below average or unsatisfactory on the 2023–24 South Carolina school report cards, and trustees pressed staff for concrete, time‑bound measures to make the goals actionable.

District academic staff listed the 13 schools identified as underperforming: Bates Middle School, Cherryville Elementary, Chestnut Oaks Middle School, Crestwood High School,…