Summary:
Zip code 28327, located in Carthage, North Carolina, is served by a single middle school: Crain's Creek Middle. This school enrolls 481 students in grades 6–8 and is part of Moore County Schools, a district ranked 63rd out of 246 in North Carolina with a 4-star rating. Crain's Creek is characterized by a very high level of economic need — 99.38% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — and a student–teacher ratio of 15.6:1, with per-pupil spending at $9,638.
Academically, Crain's Creek showed notable improvement in 2025-26. Its state rank jumped from 414th (2 stars) in 2024-25 to 293rd (3 stars) out of about 778 North Carolina middle schools, placing it in the 62nd percentile. The school now outperforms the state average in every reading grade tested, with 8th grade reading proficiency 13.8 points above the state, and also shines in 8th grade science, sitting 10.9 points above the statewide average. However, math remains a consistent weak spot: proficiency in every grade is below both district and state averages, with 6th grade math 14.2 points behind the district and 5 points behind the state.
The most dramatic finding is the school's one-year growth. From 2024-25 to 2025-26, 8th grade science proficiency surged 18.6 points to 79.5%, 8th grade reading rose 17.4 points to 69.9%, and 8th grade math improved 15.6 points to 50.0%. That said, Crain's Creek still trails its district in every tested subject, though the gaps narrowed in 8th grade reading and science to just 1.4 and 3.7 points respectively. Chronic absenteeism remains a serious concern at 31.4%, well above the district rate of 19.3% and the state rate of 24.2%. Given the school's impressive recent gains, addressing absenteeism could provide an even stronger foundation for sustained improvement.
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