By Tabitha Evans Moore
Editor & Publisher
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — They come from surrounding counties for a reason. Moore County’s seventh graders ranked first in the entire South Central District in English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies this past school year. The eighth grade ranked first in Math and near the top of the state in Science and Social Studies. The high school sits among the district’s best in Algebra II, Biology, and English. This is not a secret — and the families who live outside Moore County’s lines know it.
At its March meeting, the Moore County School Board voted to keep the welcome mat out — at the same price it has been.
Non-resident student tuition will remain at $400 per child per year, with a family maximum of $1,200 annually. The motion passed unanimously with Chair person Tanya Vann, Carrie Barnett, Kaleigh Hatfield, and Ed Cashion all voting in favor. Jammie Cashion was absent from the meeting.
A Rate That Reflects What Moore County Is
The decision was not made lightly. District administration reviewed tuition rates charged by other South Central District counties, and the picture that emerged was one of balance. Some neighboring districts charge more. Many charge nothing at all. Moore County sits comfortably in the middle — accessible enough to remain an option for families who want something better or just different for their children, but not so low as to give away what the district has worked hard to build.
“I think we’re probably enough to be a little bit of a deterrent — or say that it’s a value for you to pay something to come here — without overcharging anybody,” board chair Tanya Vann said during deliberations.
There is also a financial reality that shapes the decision. Non-resident students who enroll in Moore County generate state per-pupil funding for the district — funding that would be put at risk if tuition were raised to a level that discouraged enrollment. Keeping the rate steady is both a community signal and a sound fiscal strategy.
A Growing District With Something to Offer
The timing of the vote matters. Moore County Schools is in a period of genuine growth. Enrollment is up, and that will affect state funding allocation for the coming year.
That growth is not accidental. It is the downstream effect of a district that has invested in its students and seen results. As reported in The Lynchburg Times in February, Moore County’s 2024-25 State Report Card placed the district among the top performers in the South Central District at nearly every grade level. Lynchburg Elementary sixth graders ranked first in the district in all four core subjects. Moore County Middle School seventh graders did the same. The high school placed first in the district in Algebra II.
For a family in a neighboring county watching those numbers and weighing their options, $400 a year is a straightforward calculation.
What the Board Will Review Next
Per board policy, non-resident tuition is reviewed every summer. This vote locks in the current rate through the upcoming school year. Should enrollment patterns shift or neighboring districts change their own rates significantly, the board could revisit the question again in the months ahead.
For now, Moore County’s doors remain open — and the price of entry reflects exactly what this district thinks of itself: worth it, but not out of reach. •
About The Lynchburg Times: The Lynchburg Times covers Moore County School Board meetings as part of its commitment to community accountability journalism. This work is support by our community partners at Barrel House Barbecue.