Summary:
Zip code 28326 in Cameron, North Carolina is served by one public middle school, New Century Middle, which enrolls 602 students in grades 6 through 8 and is part of Moore County Schools. New Century Middle is a standout performer, earning a 4-star rating and ranking 87th out of 778 middle schools statewide, placing it in the 89th percentile—well ahead of its district's overall rank of 63rd out of 246 (74th percentile). The school has improved steadily over the past three years, climbing from 136th in 2023–2024 to its current position, and it consistently exceeds both district and state averages across every tested subject and grade level.
Academically, New Century Middle posts impressive proficiency rates on North Carolina End-of-Grade tests. In math, 6th graders lead with 77.8% proficient (compared with 59.2% statewide), while 7th and 8th graders reach 68.2% and 69.5%, respectively—all above district and state benchmarks. Reading scores are similarly strong, with 6th and 8th graders at 76.9% proficient and 7th graders at 67.7%, outperforming the state averages by 12 to 22 percentage points. Science is a clear highlight: 92.3% of 8th graders are proficient, a remarkable 23.7-point advantage over the North Carolina average of 68.6%. The school also benefits from better attendance, with a chronic absenteeism rate of 13.9% versus 19.3% for the district and 24.2% statewide. About one-third of students (32.39%) are eligible for free or reduced lunch, and the student-to-teacher ratio is a favorable 15.3:1.
Two trends are worth watching. Reading proficiency improved significantly year over year in 6th and 8th grades, rising by 7.5 and 9.9 points, respectively, making reading a growing strength. However, 7th-grade math dropped sharply from 77.8% to 68.2% in the same period—the school's lowest math score. Even with that decline, 7th graders still outpace the state by 12 points. Overall, New Century Middle offers a stable, high-achieving environment with particularly strong science and reading outcomes, low chronic absenteeism, and a rising state ranking. The only notable area for parents to monitor is 7th-grade math, which remains above average but showed a meaningful one-year dip.
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