Moore County Schools presented four strategic pathways on Oct. 27 to address significant overcrowding at the district’s high schools, and asked for public feedback and updated projections to guide a longer‑range capital plan.

District staff told the joint meeting that Pinecrest High School’s current enrollment is well above its design core capacity and that Union Pines High School is also over capacity. To address immediate and future demand, the construction committee outlined four principal options: (1) major expansions and modernization of Pinecrest and Union Pines to increase core capacities; (2) build a new 1,700‑seat high school and renovate the other two schools; (3) build a 1,400‑seat new high school with design provisions to add 300 seats later; or (4) rebalance enrollment with a new 1,400‑seat school plus targeted expansions so all three schools are closer in size.

Why the matter matters

District staff said the three‑school approach must address core space (media, cafeteria and shared functions) and not only classroom counts, which drives substantially different costs. Staff cautioned that previously prepared plans for Pinecrest and Union Pines would need to be redone to reflect current enrollment, code, and program needs.

Costs and next steps

Staff recommended a district public hearing to present the four options, solicit public preference and then obtain updated cost estimates and enrollment projections for Area 3. The district noted that the likely next step after a preferred path is selected would be updated cost projections and then, if necessary, a bond referendum to fund a new high school or comprehensive renovations.

Provenance: topic intro 01:36:40 (start of high‑school capacity discussion) — topic finish 01:52:05 (discussion of options and next steps).

Speakers (selected): Jenny Purvis, Dr. Tim Locklear.

Clarifying details:
- Pinecrest enrollment reported: 2,285; district said this school is over capacity by 635 (presented figure).
- Union Pines enrollment reported: 1,392; district said it is over capacity by 324 (presented figure).
- Four options described: (1) expand cores at both schools; (2) build 1,700‑seat new HS and modernize two others; (3) build 1,400 with ability to expand to 1,700; (4) new 1,400 and smaller additions to balance three schools.

Searchable tags: ["high school capacity","Pinecrest","Union Pines","bond"]