MOORE COUNTY, N.C. — Several Moore County Schools capital projects are moving forward as district leaders plan for enrollment growth, aging facilities and future technology needs.
The Moore County Board of Education received an update on the proposed replacement of Carthage Elementary School, planning for an additional comprehensive high school in western Moore County and two projects at Union Pines High School.
Carthage Elementary replacement moves forward
Utility locating and topographical surveys have been completed for the Carthage Elementary replacement project. That information has been submitted to the district’s architectural firm as designers work to determine how the new school will fit on the existing campus.
An Aug. 11 meeting is expected to focus on the building’s footprint, vehicle queuing and how far the school can be placed from the road without requiring costly retaining walls.
District leaders expect the replacement school to use a modified two-story prototype with an L-shaped configuration. Teachers, school improvement teams and other employees will have opportunities to provide feedback before the design is finalized.
Moore County Schools hopes to complete architectural plans and permitting during the 2026-27 school year. That schedule could allow site preparation and construction to begin during summer 2027.
Construction planned around existing school
Carthage Elementary will remain open while the replacement campus is built. The phased construction plan is expected to include temporary classrooms, relocated utilities and fenced construction zones designed to separate students and employees from the work area.
If construction begins on schedule, the project is expected to take approximately 18 months. Students could then move into the replacement building during a following school year.
New western Moore County high school studied
The district is also developing a multiyear plan for an additional comprehensive high school in western Moore County.
Consultants are updating enrollment and capacity studies to determine where a new campus could be located while maintaining balanced enrollment at Pinecrest and Union Pines. Officials want attendance areas that allow students to attend schools near their communities without requiring lengthy bus rides across the county.
Interviews with municipalities and the Moore County Planning Department are expected to begin in October. Enrollment forecasting will follow in November, with school-level projections expected in January 2027.
Potential school locations and attendance-zone recommendations are scheduled to reach the Board of Education in March 2027. Public meetings could then be held in each attendance area during fall 2027 before voters consider a future bond referendum.
Union Pines projects also progressing
Installation of a synthetic turf field at Union Pines High School remains scheduled for completion by Aug. 15. Crews have completed extensive drainage and site-preparation work, although rain temporarily delayed construction and material deliveries.
Moore County Schools is also planning an IT Data Operations Center on the Union Pines campus. The district is awaiting topographical and wetland survey results before designers finalize the building and begin preparing construction documents.
Together, the Moore County Schools capital projects are intended to provide additional classroom capacity, modernize existing facilities and prepare the district for future enrollment and technology demands.
Source: Original reporting by Abegail Murphy of Sandhills Sentinel.
