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The Sumter County School Board met August 6^th. Superintendent Knighton gave enrollment at 3505. Kimothy Hadley gave milestones data. For third grade English in the 2021-2022 school year, 19% were developing learners, 9% were proficient learners, and 2% were distinguished. For third grade math during the 2021-2022 school year, 34% were developing, 2% were proficient, and 1% were distinguished.

For third grade during the 2022-2023 school year, in English, 22% were developing, 13% were proficient, and 3% were distinguished. For Math for the same grade and timeframe, 39% were developing, 13% were proficient, and 2% were distinguished.

For third grade during the 2023-2024 school year, in English, 30% were developing, 18% were proficient, and 3% were distinguished. Math scores are currently unavailable.

Kimothy Hadley also gave the milestones data for fourth grade students. During the 2021-2022 period, in English, the percentage of developing learners was 26%, proficient learners was 5%, and distinguished learners was 1%. In math during the same timeframe, the percentage of developing learners was 23%, the percentage of proficient learners was 2%, and 0% distinguished learners.

For fourth grade during the 2022-2023 school years, in English, 32% of students were developing, 7% were proficient, and 3% distinguished. In math during the same time frame, 44% were developing, 7% were proficient, and 1% were distinguished.

For fourth grade students during the 2023-2024 school year, in English, 34% were developing, 9% were proficient, and 2% distinguished. Math scores are currently unavailable.

For fifth grade during the 2021-2022 year, in English, 34% were developing, 15% were proficient, and 1% distinguished. During the same timeframe in math, 25% were developing, 18% were proficient, and 2% were distinguished.

For fifth grade students during the 2022-2023 school year, in English, 33% were developing, 12% were proficient, and 1% were distinguished. For the same grade and timeframe in math, 26% of students were developing, 14% were proficient, and 2% were distinguished.

For fifth grade students during the 2022-2023 school year, in English, 38% were developing, 18% were proficient, and 2% distinguished. For math during the same time and grade, 22% were developing, 19% were proficient, and 4% were distinguished.

For sixth grade during the 2021-2022 school year, in English, 31% of students were developing learners, 11% are proficient, and 0% are distinguished. For math, same grade and time, 39% were developing, 8% were proficient, and 0% were distinguished.

For sixth grade during the 2022-2023 school year, in English, 31% were developing, 18% were proficient, and 1% were distinguished. In math, same time and grade, 40% were developing, 5% were proficient, and 1% were distinguished.

For sixth grade in the 2023-2024 school year, in English, 33% were developing, 14% were proficient, and 1% were distinguished. Math scores were unavailable.

For seventh grade students during the 2021-2022 school year, in English, 34% were developing learners, 12% were proficient, and 0% were distinguished. For students same grade and time in math, 42% were developing, 2% were proficient, and 0% were distinguished.

For seventh graders during the 2022-2023 school year, in English, 41% were developing learners, 16% were proficient learners, and 0% were distinguished learners. For math same grade and time, 46% were developing, 7% were proficient, and 1% distinguished.

For seventh grade students during the 2023-2024 school year, in English, 28% were developing learners, 16% were proficient, and 1% were distinguished. Math scores were unavailable.

For eighth grade students during the 2021-2022 year, in English, 44% were developing, 14% were proficient, and 1% were distinguished. In math same grade and time, 39% were developing, 12% were proficient, and 1% were distinguished.

For eighth grade students during the 2022-2023 school year, in English, 43% of students were developing learners, 19% were proficient, and 1% were distinguished. In math, same year and grade, 26% were developing, 6% were proficient, and 1% were distinguished.

For eighth grade students in the 2023-2024 school year, in English, 48% were developing, 15% were proficient, and 2% were distinguished. Math scores were unavailable.

Hadley commented on scores, noted that while the percentages for some grades may have dropped, when viewed by cohort of students, they still made growth. “If you look at this past year eight grade group, look at the ELA section, 65% are developing or higher. But looking at where those same eight graders where the year before in 22-23, only 57% as a whole.”

Superintendent Knighton commented; “the key piece for us, that we talked about, is the communication pieces. To be able to communicate with the students where they are, [with] parents where they are, on an ongoing basis.”

Thomas talked about the schools birth to literary work. “We are working with the daycare centers.” She also talked about working with parents, stating that they would have “each semester, learning communities for parents, so that we can empower parents on best practices with what’s happening around literacy for the students.” She also talked about working with community agencies.

Thomas mentioned that they had free books for new mothers, and worked through daycares to ensure parents had books to read to their kids.