Excellent
#223 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 8% in state
Sandhills Farm Life Elementary
Elementary School · Moore County Schools
2201 Farm Life Rd, Carthage, NC 28327
Enrollment
378
Student-Teacher
14.5:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
378
Student-Teacher
14.5:1
Score
8.5
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Carthage
#1 of 4
public schools
North Carolina elementary schools
#199 of 1,474
In district
#3 of 22
Moore County Schools
Academic growth
9.3 / 10
Exceptional
About Sandhills Farm Life Elementary
Sandhills Farm Life Elementary is a public elementary school in Carthage, NC, part of the Moore County Schools. The school serves approximately 378 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 14.5:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.5/10, placing it in the 91.6th percentile among NC schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 67% proficiency in math, 7 points above the state average and 63% in reading/language arts, 10 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.3/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $84,850, where 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a fringe rural setting.
What Parents Should Know
Located in a rural area, Sandhills Farm Life Elementary may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
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Sandhills Farm Life Elementary — Students at Sandhills Farm Life Elementary score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
29.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 12 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.3/10.
How Sandhills Farm Life Elementary Compares
See how Sandhills Farm Life Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 45% (2019) to 78.3% (2025). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 55% (2019) to 66.2% (2025).
Location
2201 Farm Life Rd, Carthage, NC 28327
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Sandhills Farm Life Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Pinehurst Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 6.6 miles away, in nearby Pinehurst), with a very similar rating. Another option is Vass-Lakeview Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 5.8 miles away, in nearby Vass), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Cameron Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 7.9 miles away, in nearby Cameron), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Carthage, see our Carthage schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 7.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| SANDHILLS CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Whispering Pines | 1.9 mi | 7.0 |
| THE O'NEAL SCHOOL Southern Pines | 3.7 mi | 7.1 |
| FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Carthage | 3.8 mi | 5.1 |
| ST JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC SCHOOL Southern Pines | 4.2 mi | 6.6 |
| New Century Middle Cameron | 4.0 mi | 7.8 |
| Union Pines High Cameron | 3.9 mi | 5.3 |
| McDeeds Creek Elementary Southern Pines | 4.4 mi | 8.1 |
| Carthage Elementary Carthage | 4.8 mi | 7.3 |
| The Community Learning Center @ Pinckney Carthage | 5.0 mi | 5.8 |
| STARS Charter Vass | 5.4 mi | 7.6 |
| FATHER CAPODANNO SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL Vass | 5.5 mi | 7.0 |
| Southern Pines Elementary Southern Pines | 6.8 mi | 7.7 |
| Pinecrest High Southern Pines | 6.7 mi | 5.5 |
| Vass-Lakeview Elementary Vass | 5.8 mi | 8.3 |
| Pinehurst Elementary Pinehurst | 6.6 mi | 8.6 |
| Moore Montessori Community School Southern Pines | 7.2 mi | 4.5 |
| EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL Southern Pines | 7.3 mi | 6.1 |
| Crain's Creek Middle Carthage | 6.0 mi | 5.9 |
| Southern Middle Aberdeen | 8.5 mi | 7.9 |
| Cameron Elementary Cameron | 7.9 mi | 8.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 28327 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$84,850
Median Home Value
$299,500
Median Rent
$1,362/mo
Population
18,984
College Educated
35.7%
Homeownership
79.1%
Avg Commute
26.5 min
Poverty Rate
8.6%
Median Age
39.8
Community Profile
The community surrounding Sandhills Farm Life Elementary has a median household income of $84,850. It is an area where 36% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $299,500, with a median rent of $1,362/month. The local poverty rate of 8.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Brinson Memorial Elementary New Bern, NC | 8.5 |
| E M Rollins Elementary Henderson, NC | 8.5 |
| Grantham Elementary Goldsboro, NC | 8.5 |
| Jackson Park Elementary Kannapolis, NC | 8.5 |
| James Y Joyner Elementary Greensboro, NC | 8.5 |
| Jarvisburg Elementary Jarvisburg, NC | 8.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Sandhills Farm Life Elementary
What grades does Sandhills Farm Life Elementary serve?
Sandhills Farm Life Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Sandhills Farm Life Elementary?
Sandhills Farm Life Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 378 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sandhills Farm Life Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sandhills Farm Life Elementary is 14.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Sandhills Farm Life Elementary rank in NC?
Sandhills Farm Life Elementary is ranked #223 out of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Sandhills Farm Life Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Sandhills Farm Life Elementary has a composite rating of 8.5 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Sandhills Farm Life Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Sandhills Farm Life Elementary has 66.7% math proficiency and 62.9% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Sandhills Farm Life Elementary a charter school?
No, Sandhills Farm Life Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Sandhills Farm Life Elementary a Title I school?
No, Sandhills Farm Life Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sandhills Farm Life Elementary?
29.4% of students at Sandhills Farm Life Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 378
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 29.4%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Moore County
- Phone
- (910) 949-2501
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Moore County Schools- District Enrollment
- 12,990
- Schools in District
- 23
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,374
- District Rank
- #3 of 22
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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