Located approximately 9 miles southwest of the city of Sumter, Furman opened its doors as a middle school in the mid-1990s after serving as a high school for countless years prior. Serving 725 students in grades 6-8, Furman serves rural areas and suburbs including the Cane Savannah, Cherryvale, Delaine, Lakewood, Manchester, Pinewood, Privateer, Sumter, Wedgewood, and Wedgefield communities, among others. Furman students are transported by bus or by car beginning at approximately 6:00 A.M. daily. Sumter, nestled in the heart of the state, is the seat of Sumter County. Sumter lies 45 miles east of Columbia, the state capital. Offering major industries of manufacturing, military, and medical, Sumter is proud to be the home of Swan Lake Iris Gardens and Shaw Air Force Base (Shaw AFB). Swan Lake Iris Gardens is the only public park in the United States with all eight known species of swans and multiple varieties of Japanese Iris. The Iris Festival, held every May at Swan Lake Iris Gardens, is a multiple winner of the “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” Award. Shaw AFB, headquarters to the 9th Air Force and the 20th Fighter Wing, is one of the largest bases in the United States Air Force. Staff and curriculum are important elements of any educational system or institution.
Furman Middle School is a 6-8th middle school that, in conjunction with various arts and STEM initiatives, enhances teacher instructional practices and student-based strategies that are being incorporated into the curriculum. In addition to working with student engagement using proven strategies, we were awarded a STEM grant that provided training and necessary supplies for one of our teachers to provide STEM opportunities for students. In addition to the STEM grant, we were able to purchase other resources to promote STEM and added robotics to our offerings for students. We also have resources to provide opportunities for STEM activities throughout all subjects and are very excited to build on our current offerings. By providing these opportunities, along with excellent instruction, our students are growing in their knowledge of STEM concepts and it resulted in Furman Middle winning the 1st Annual Thunder Over the Midlands STEAM challenge. Furman Middle also implements the Advancement through Individual Determination (AVID) program. This program has been successful in reaching students who show potential but just need additional assistance in organization, studying, note-taking and various other skills. This program has been very successful and we are now in our sixth year of implementation. We also provide access to arts integration experiences through partnerships with Engaging Creative Minds (ECM) and the National Summer Learning Project to offer after-school tutoring and STEAM camp, as well as our twice-weekly Project BiG tutoring program that supports meeting specific student needs.
The staff of Furman Middle School includes dedicated, competent professionals who provide content and pedagogical expertise, guidance, and leadership to students thereby enhancing well-roundedness, competency, and responsibility as a way of life. To meet the needs of our varied stakeholders, we offer a wide range of experiences, resources, and supports to prepare students for success in and outside of the classroom, as well as when they make the transition to high school. The curriculum consists of the core academic subjects such as English, mathematics, science, and social studies. Additional courses include career and technical education, physical education, and fine arts. In addition to course offerings, we provide counseling and guidance services, special tutorials, and a variety of athletic and co-curricular activities to enhance the middle school experience for our students.
