Sumter County School District (Georgia)

In 2004, Sumter County High School and Americus High School merged, becoming Americus-Sumter County High School. At this time, the South Campus housed grades 10-12 while the North Campus (formerly Sumter County High School) served as the 9th Grade Academy, the Performance Learning Center, and the alternative school. At the time of the merger, Juanita Wilson was the principal of the South Campus. She retired in 2005 and was replaced by Tony Overstreet for the 2005–2006 school term. Dr. Larry Moore served as principal from 2006-2008 before being replaced by Ronald Gadson for 2008-2009. Gadson resigned following the 2009-2010 term and was replaced by Walter Knighton, who had served as assistant principal at the South Campus since 2008. In 2013, Knighton was promoted to Director of Professional Learning and Assessment. Kimothy Hadley, who was principal of Sumter County Middle School at the time, was promoted, and is currently the principal of Americus Sumter High School.

The school system has reconfigured several times since the 2004 merger. In 2012, the Board of Education voted on, and approved the closing of Cherokee Elementary School. Prior to closing, Cherokee Elementary housed grades Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade. Upon closure, these grades were moved to Sarah Cobb Elementary School, and 5th Grade at Sarah Cobb was moved the Staley Middle School. Sarah Cobb housed Grades Pre-K thru four, and Staley Middle housed grades five thru eight. In early 2015, the SCS Board of Education voted on, and approved the first major reconfiguration of school system. During the 2015-16 school term, the former Sarah Cobb Elementary School (which housed grades Pre-K thru four) was changed to Sumter County Early Learning Center, and housed grades Pre-K and Kindergarten. Sumter County Primary School (which housed grades Pre-K thru second), was reconfigured to house only first and second graders. Sumter County Elementary School (which housed grades three thru fifth) was reconfigured to house only third and fourth graders. The former Sumter County Middle School (which housed sixth through eighth graders) was changed to Sumter County Intermediate School, and housed grades five and six. Americus Sumter County High - North Campus (which housed all ninth graders) was changed to Sumter County Middle School, and housed seventh and eighth graders. Staley Middle School (which housed sixth thru eighth graders) was changed to Americus Sumter Ninth Grade Academy, and housed all ninth graders. Americus Sumter County High - South Campus received a name change to Americus Sumter High School. The school system reconfigured once again for the 2016-17 school term, where location changes were made for all Pre-K, Kindergarten, second, and fourth grade students. The school system also has an independent charter school, currently known as Furlow Charter School.

The school competes in the AAAA classification in athletics. Before the merger, Americus High School won state championships in football in 1962, 1965, 1974, 1975, 2000, and 2001. NFL player Leonard Pope was a member of the championship teams in 2000 and 2001. Fabian Walker, the starting quarterback for Florida State University in the 2003 Sugar Bowl against the University of Georgia, also graduated from Americus High. Former NFL coaches Chan Gailey and Dan Reeves are graduates and former football players at Americus High. The first merged football team was led by Coach William Clark. He was succeeded by Coach Mark Wilson in 2006.

The superintendent is Dr. Torrance Choates. The associate superintendent is Mr. Walter Knighton.

The Sumter County School District has one primary school, one elementary school, two middle schools, two high schools, and one charter school.[3]

• Sumter County School District