Best Public Schools in Aberdeen, NC

Aberdeen, North Carolina is served by three public schools—two elementary schools (Aberdeen Elementary and The Academy of Moore County) and one middle school (Southern Middle)—with no high schools located within the city limits, together enrolling roughly 1,774 students across grades PK–8. The Academy of Moore County is the clear academic standout in Aberdeen, ranking in the 90th percentile statewide among elementary schools and posting an overall proficiency rate of 79.5% in 2025-26. Its district, The Academy of Moore County, ranks 14th out of 246 in North Carolina, and the school boasts very low chronic absenteeism at just 7.7%. Across every subject and grade, its proficiency rates are dramatically above state averages—its lowest single subject score was 72.2%, which still exceeded Aberdeen Elementary's highest score that year.

Aberdeen Elementary is the school of highest concern. It ranks in the 21st percentile of North Carolina elementary schools, earned only a 1-star rating, and posted proficiency scores well below district and state averages in every subject. More than one in three students (37.4%) is chronically absent, and 98.22% of its students qualify for free/reduced lunch. In contrast, Southern Middle performs much better despite having a similarly high poverty rate (98.87%). Southern Middle ranks in the 63rd percentile among middle schools, with reading proficiency above the state average in every grade level and 8th grade science proficiency reaching 80.9%—well above the state's 68.6%. Its main weakness is math, with overall math proficiency at 51.4% and 8th grade math just 43.4% versus the state's 53.0%.

The two Moore County Schools campuses—Aberdeen Elementary and Southern Middle—illustrate a striking within-district gap. Moore County Schools ranks a solid 63rd out of 246 districts statewide, but Aberdeen Elementary lags far behind its district peers. Attendance and economics appear to drive outcomes: the high-performing Academy has just 7.7% chronic absenteeism, while the lower-performing Aberdeen has 37.4%. Encouragingly, both Moore County schools improved from 2024-25 to 2025-26, and Southern Middle's science proficiency jumped nearly 20 points. For parents, the message is simple: The Academy of Moore County is a top-tier choice, Southern Middle provides strong literacy and science instruction despite high poverty, and Aberdeen Elementary is struggling and needs the most attention.