Located approximately 9 miles southwest of the city of Sumter, Furman opened its doors as a middle school in the 1996 after serving as a high school for countless decadess 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.
At Furman Middle School, our mission is to equip every student with the knowledge, integrity, and skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing global society through rigorous academics, real-world experiences, and a culture of empathy and respect. This guiding purpose is woven into everything we do, from the classroom to the playing field, from after-school clubs to community partnerships. Proudly standing on our foundation—Together, Building Lives of Excellence, Purpose & Integrity—our students, staff, and families continue to embody what it means to be part of a school that values growth, character, and collaboration.
Our students have made tremendous academic gains this year, earning multiple recognitions as winners of the Edmentum Exact Path Challenge, which highlights excellence in personalized learning and academic progress. We expanded our instructional offerings to include innovative, real-world courses such as Project Lead the Way, Piano, Yearbook, and Pro Team—broadening pathways for students to develop technical, creative, and leadership skills. In recognition of our collaborative and forward-thinking culture, Furman was proudly designated as a South Carolina Collective Leadership School, joining the prestigious Cohort 8 and reinforcing our status as a hub of continuous improvement and student-centered innovation.
Creativity and cultural expression were at the forefront this year, as we partnered with guest musician Shonda English to host a Harlem Renaissance-themed Black History Month celebration. The event showcased our students' talents in music, performance, and the visual arts, creating a rich and meaningful learning experience that celebrated history and heritage. Our academic scholars also achieved great success by winning the regional Black History Bowl, demonstrating both intellectual rigor and cultural literacy.
Furman’s athletic programs experienced a banner year, marked by discipline, teamwork, and competitive excellence. The volleyball team captured the 2024 regular season championship, with Coach Healon earning the well-deserved title of 2024 Coach of the Year. Our football team also performed admirably, finishing as conference regular season runner-up. Meanwhile, in the world of digital athletics, our E-Sports team earned national recognition, placing 24th in the country in the Super Mario Kart division—highlighting our students' ability to excel in both traditional and emerging competitive platforms.
Outside the school day, our students thrived in our newly launched Beyond the Bell , a title-i program, which quickly became a hallmark of extended learning and student engagement. More than 200 students participated regularly in this enriching experience that begins with two hours of targeted academic tutoring and intervention, followed by a wide array of student clubs including step team, pottery, gospel choir, line dancing, digital product design, sign language, and world languages such as Spanish and French. This program exemplifies our commitment to blending academic rigor with real-world enrichment, helping students connect learning to their passions and futures.
Family and community partnerships remained a strong focus this year, as demonstrated by the overwhelming success of our open house events, Winterfest and Earth Fair, which each drew over 500 attendees. We also partnered with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Department to host a 5v5 Relay for Life basketball tournament, raising more than $1,500 toward our goal. Altogether, Furman raised $5,000 for Relay for Life and was recognized as the #2 fundraising team in the region—further evidence of our students’ compassion and our school’s shared commitment to service and impact.
We are also proud to celebrate the incredible educators who make Furman a place of excellence. Dr. Alcantara was named the Sumter School District Induction Teacher of the Year, while Mr. Nash was honored as the District’s Pre-Certified Teacher of the Year. These recognitions reflect the dedication, talent, and passion of our staff, who work each day to inspire students and uphold our mission in every classroom.
At Furman Middle School, we believe in building more than just academic success—we are cultivating a future grounded in excellence, purpose, and integrity. Every achievement we celebrate is a step forward in our shared journey to help students grow into confident, compassionate, and capable leaders in a global society.
