The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in Science. The lowest is 69% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on New Century Middle
New Century Middle serves a middle-school population in Cameron, a small, antique-focused Sandhills town in Moore County. The school enrolls students in grades six through eight and sits on a campus on Union Church Road, outside the town's historic downtown along Carthage Street.
In the most recent state testing data, New Century Middle shows uneven performance across subjects. In math, approximately three-quarters of students scored at or above proficiency, a solid result. English language arts proficiency ran lower, with roughly two-thirds of students meeting the standard. Science, by contrast, was notably strong, with the vast majority of students proficient. The school tested all three cohorts across math and ELA, while the science assessment was administered to a smaller group. State assessment comparisons specific to Moore County were not available, so a parent may want to look into how these results position the school within the district and region.
The student body is predominantly white, with substantial representation from Hispanic and Black students as well. Roughly a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating moderate economic need within the enrollment. The school is not identified as Title I eligible, though that designation does not always reflect the full economic profile. Specific counts of students with individualized education plans and English learners were not available in the data.
Cameron itself is experiencing residential growth on its edges despite a slight decline in town-proper population. Recent approvals for subdivisions like Olde North, a 17-home development marketed toward small-farm homesteads with fiber internet, signal that families are moving into the Cameron area, many commuting to Fort Liberty and the Sandhills region. Housing values in the Cameron ZIP code sit modestly below the state benchmark, and rental costs are moderate for the region. This positioning makes the area accessible to families relocating for military, college, or regional employment while retaining rural character.
Moore County Schools itself has undergone significant change in recent years. The district opened Moore Innovative High School in fall of this year on the Sandhills Community College campus, offering a cooperative model focused on skilled trades with the chance to earn industry certifications or an associate degree alongside a high school diploma, all at no tuition cost. For families interested in that pathway, this represents a new option within the district. The district also completed three brand-new elementary schools between 2020 and 2021, all built with modern facilities; one was later named a North Carolina Blue Ribbon School. A November 2026 referendum on a new Carthage Elementary School building will appear on the ballot, financed by property tax backed bonds, a factor parents in the northern part of the county may want to monitor.
Data on discipline, attendance, staffing, and course access at New Century Middle were not available. Similarly, information about whether the school houses any specialized programs, career pathways, or advanced offerings beyond core instruction was not provided. A parent considering this school would want to ask the school directly about course sequences, enrichment, extracurricular offerings, and how the school supports students who fall below grade-level proficiency, particularly in ELA.
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