Moore County Schools, NC

Original Research by School Decision on Moore County Schools

Moore County Schools serves a district that stretches across multiple towns and communities in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, from Sandhills towns like Pinehurst and Southern Pines on the east to more rural communities like Robbins and Seagrove on the west. The district enrolls students from early childhood through twelfth grade across a network of elementary, middle, and high schools.

In mathematics, the district shows proficiency in the middle range for the state. About half of students in grades three through eight perform at proficient or above levels. English language arts proficiency runs slightly lower, with a similar share of students in those grades meeting the standard. Science proficiency is stronger, with about three-quarters of tested students demonstrating competency. These results reflect a district where the majority of students are meeting grade-level expectations, though room for improvement exists in foundational literacy and numeracy.

The district's enrollment is diverse both demographically and geographically. White students make up the largest share of the student body, followed by a substantial Hispanic population and a significant Black student population. The district serves a range of communities with different economic profiles and housing markets. Property values vary considerably across Moore County; areas around Pinehurst and Southern Pines command notably higher home values, while rural areas to the west and communities like Robbins show more modest valuations. Rental markets similarly split, with higher rents in the Pinehurst-Southern Pines corridor and lower costs in other parts of the county. This geographic and economic diversity means the district serves families across a wide spectrum of circumstances.

The district faces a higher chronic absenteeism rate than the midpoint among Moore County's districts, a challenge that warrants monitoring. The district's per-pupil spending stands in the upper range for the county, reflecting investment in facilities and programs.

Moore County Schools has undertaken substantial capital investment in recent years. Three new elementary schools opened between 2020 and 2021 on the back of voter-approved bonds, replacing older facilities in Aberdeen, Southern Pines, and Pinehurst. These new buildings modernized the district's physical plant in the faster-growing parts of the county. Pinehurst Elementary was named one of North Carolina's inaugural Blue Ribbon Schools. The district also secured voter approval for a dedicated local sales tax to help fund school construction and debt service, shifting some facility costs away from property tax alone.

A significant new pathway opened in fall 2025: Moore Innovative High School, a cooperative program operated with Sandhills Community College and focused on skilled trades and dual-credit work. Students attend classes on the college campus and can earn industry certifications or an associate degree alongside their high school diploma in an accelerated, honors-level model. This represents a tuition-free alternative to traditional high school for families interested in career pathways in the trades.

Looking ahead, the district plans to replace aging Carthage Elementary School. A bond referendum is scheduled for November 2026 to fund a new facility on a newly purchased site on Vass-Carthage Road. The location choice has been contentious locally, so the outcome will affect property taxes in the county and the school assignment for families in the Carthage area.

Moore County Schools is a geographically dispersed district with notably varied property markets and community types. Families considering a move to the area should weigh the specific town or neighborhood they are considering, as housing costs and school assignments vary significantly. The district is investing in facilities and has created new academic pathways, particularly around skilled trades and dual-credit work, that did not previously exist. Chronic absenteeism is a metric worth discussing directly with the schools when evaluating fit.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

12,990

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 16%

Black 13%

White 62%

Asian 1%

Two+ 8%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

39%

73%

Gr 4

45%

76%

Gr 5

47%

75%

Gr 6

48%

79%

Gr 7

46%

74%

Gr 8

44%

75%

Gr 38

45%

75%

Math

Gr 3

59%

86%

Gr 4

43%

79%

Gr 5

48%

80%

Gr 6

46%

83%

Gr 7

42%

77%

Gr 8

29%

64%

Gr 38

44%

78%

Science

Gr 5

56%

84%

Gr 8

48%

86%

Gr 38

52%

85%

Schools in this District

23 schools are officially reported under this district.

Sandhills Farm Life Elementary

Southern Pines Elementary

Union Pines High

Vass-Lakeview Elementary

West End Elementary

Westmoore Elementary

The Community Learning Center @ Pinckney

McDeeds Creek Elementary

Connect Academy

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

65%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

63%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

72%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$334,564

Year-over-year change+1.2%

Range across 16 ZIP codes$144K to $533K

vs. state typical0.99x

vs. national typical0.91x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (16 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
28327	Carthage	$407K	+1.2%	26.8%
27325	Robbins	$171K	-0.7%	11.7%
27376	West End	$429K	+1.1%	9.8%
27242	Eagle Springs	$198K	-0.5%	7.3%
28315	Aberdeen	$352K	+0.5%	6.2%
28326	Cameron	$318K	+1.2%	6.1%
28394	Vass	$364K	+1.2%	5.9%
27281	Jackson Springs	$368K	-0.4%	5.8%
28387	Southern Pines	$453K	+0.9%	4.2%
27341	Seagrove	$204K	+8.8%	3.9%

Showing top 10 of 16 ZIP codes by land area weight

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,880/mo

Year-over-year change+2.6%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$1,487 to $2,117/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
28327	Carthage	$1,884	+3.6%	26.8%
28315	Aberdeen	$1,659	-2.1%	6.2%
28326	Cameron	$1,963	+3.6%	6.1%
28394	Vass	$2,117	—	5.9%
28387	Southern Pines	$1,781	+0.6%	4.2%
28374	Pinehurst	$2,048	+0.8%	3.0%
27330	Sanford	$1,487	+7.7%	1.8%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,688/mo

Home price / national median income4.0x

Annual rent / national median income26.9%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$192/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$337,273 (-0.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.