Mooresville’s schools got their start in the hearts and minds of individual citizens. As early as 1845 James Moore donated land for a community school, the North Bend School. Even then there was an active group looking for ways to provide education to the young people of the area.

The Mooresville Academy was founded in 1873 as a result of John F. Moore’s civic pride. He believed that every community needed schools and churches, and he donated land for their construction. According to records, the land at the corner of Moore Avenue and Academy Street was deeded to the school committee and the Grange, which became defunct. The private school was supported by student fees.

The Academy began its 26^th session in 1901, advertising for students in the Mooresville Enterprise. The Academy intended to be “a first class school for boys and girls. Those who wish to enter college will receive such a course of instruction that will prepare them to pursue their studies successfully in the higher institutions of the state. Those not wishing to take a collegiate course will receive such training as will fit them for the ordinary vocations of life.”

The Academy building was used for church services as Mooresville churches began to organize.

The push for public schools in Mooresville grew out of a program backed by the Junior Order of American Mechanics and an active and vocal group of proponents led by Moses White, B. A. Troutman, J. P. Mills, T. B. Smith and W. C. Johnston. With a grant of land by John F. Moore and a bill in the N. C. Legislature, the Mooresville Graded School District was established in 1905. It took two elections to pass a $20,000 bond issue to build a school on the site of the old Mooresville Academy. The cornerstone was laid on June 29, 1907. A. C. Kerley was superintendent and C. L. Carr was principal.

Dr. S.W. Stevenson, the man who laid out the streets of Mooresville, was a great supporter of public education. In 1907, he wrote “the most valuable asset of any community is its young blood, the children. May every citizen of Mooresville rise above prejudice, above avarice, above narrowness, above ignorance and lend a cheerful helping hand to develop and train our young blood.” The Mooresville High School Class of 1918 took advantage of the high quality education available from the Mooresville Graded School District.