Moore County School Bond: Building for Yesterday's Enrollment, Not Tomorrow's Reality

The Moore County Board of Education wants voters to approve a school bond referendum this November to build new schools—a new elementary school in Carthage and a new high school, with a combined price tag exceeding $100 million. Before we commit future generations to decades of debt service, we need to ask a fundamental question: Are we building for the students who will actually be there?

The data tells a sobering story. While Moore County's overall population has grown, Moore County Schools has steadily lost market share. According to board member David Hensley's own admission in 2022, the district lost 12% of its market share over the previous seven years to charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling. Today, Moore County Schools enrolls only 72% of school-aged children in the county—down from 84% statewide average. In fact, only 87% of Moore County's K-12 students attend any public school, compared to 92% statewide.

This isn't a temporary blip. It's a fundamental shift in how families are choosing to educate their children.

The Rise of Educational Alternatives

North Carolina has experienced explosive growth in educational options, and Moore County families are embracing them enthusiastically. Consider:

Charter Schools: The Academy of Moore County, STARS Charter School, and Moore Montessori Community School now serve over 800 students. When Moore Montessori opened in 2018, district officials noted a corresponding decline in traditional public school enrollment. Charter school enrollment statewide grew 6.1% just this past year.

Private Schools: Statewide private school enrollment reached 135,738 students in 2024-25, up 3.4% from the previous year. This growth is accelerating thanks to the expanded Opportunity Scholarship Program.

Homeschooling: North Carolina ranks fourth nationally in homeschooling, with over 165,243 students—representing approximately 13% of K-12 students, double the national average. Moore County was specifically identified as one of the counties with the largest percent increases in homeschooling since 2016. The number of homeschools statewide grew 5.54% just in the past year.

The Opportunity Scholarship: This is the game-changer. North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship Program served over 80,000 students in 2024-25 and received more than 40,000 brand new applications for fall 2025. With the program now open to all families regardless of income, awards ranging from $3,458 to $7,686 annually make private school accessible to families across the economic spectrum. The state has committed to grow this program to $585 million by 2025-26.

Prudent Stewardship Demands We Adapt

The principle of stewardship—carefully managing resources entrusted to us—demands we acknowledge reality. Moore County public schools currently report 13,016 students. That number hasn't grown proportionally with the county's population growth. Instead, families are increasingly choosing alternatives.

Building expensive new facilities when enrollment trends are flat or declining isn't forward-thinking—it's wishful thinking. It saddles taxpayers with decades of debt payments for buildings that may never reach capacity. Interest payments alone could fund classroom improvements, teacher salaries, or technology upgrades that directly benefit students today.

A Better Path Forward

Rather than borrowing over $100 million for new construction, Moore County should:

1. Optimize existing facilities through redistricting and creative use of space

2. Address specific overcrowding at Union Pines and Pinecrest through targeted additions or portable classrooms—solutions that cost millions, not tens of millions

3. Invest in quality improvements that make public schools more competitive: rigorous academics, expanded career and technical education, and innovative programs that give families reasons to choose their neighborhood school

4. Monitor enrollment trends for another 2-3 years to see if the current shifts stabilize or accelerate

Moore County Schools operates 23 schools serving 13,016 students. With charter, private, and homeschool options growing exponentially—and with state support for school choice at historic highs—the prudent course is to pause, reassess, and invest strategically rather than speculatively.

The commissioners themselves noted that this bond could be financed without a referendum, possibly for less cost and with earlier construction. If the need were truly urgent, why insist on a referendum?

The Verdict

This bond asks taxpayers to make a massive financial commitment based on enrollment projections that ignore the most consequential education policy changes in North Carolina history. With the Opportunity Scholarship expansion, accelerating charter growth, and booming homeschool numbers, betting $100+ million that traditional public school enrollment will suddenly reverse course isn't prudent stewardship—it's a gamble with public money.

Moore County has plenty of educational options. What we need now isn't more buildings—it's wisdom to recognize when the landscape has fundamentally changed. Vote no on the school bond this November.

Data sources: Moore County Schools District Statistics, NC Division of Non-Public Education Reports, NC State Education Assistance Authority, EdNC enrollment analysis