Top Rankings
Watauga County Schools School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 11 public schools serving 4,746 students in Watauga County Schools School District. This district's average testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Watauga County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 65% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 63% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 17% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
11 Schools
2,764 Schools
# Students
4,746 Students
1,547,014 Students
# Teachers
396 Teachers
100,085 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Watauga County Schools School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 320 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 89% has decreased from 91% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#61 out of 325 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
65%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
63%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
74%
63%
Graduation Rate
89%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.30
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
4%
% Hispanic
11%
21%
% Black
1%
25%
% White
83%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,948 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,930 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$57 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$57 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,948
$11,187
Spending / Student
$11,930
$11,612
Best Watauga County Schools School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Watauga High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
300 Go Pioneers Drive
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-2407
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-2407
Grades: 9-12
| 1,279 students
Rank: #22.
Blowing Rock Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
165 Morris Street
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 295-3204
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 295-3204
Grades: PK-8
| 431 students
Rank: #33.
Parkway Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
160 Parkway School Dr
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-3032
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-3032
Grades: PK-8
| 649 students
Rank: #44.
Watauga Innovation Academy
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
300 Go Pioneers Drive
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-2407
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-2407
Grades: 9-12
| 305 students
Rank: #55.
Hardin Park Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
361 Jefferson Road
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-8481
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-8481
Grades: PK-8
| 859 students
Rank: #66.
Valle Crucis Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2998 Broadstone Road
Sugar Grove, NC 28679
(828) 963-4712
Sugar Grove, NC 28679
(828) 963-4712
Grades: PK-8
| 345 students
Rank: #77.
Watauga Virtual Academy
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
175 Pioneer Trail
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-7190
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-7190
Grades: K-8
| 24 students
Rank: #88.
Cove Creek Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
930 Vanderpool Rd
Vilas, NC 28692
(828) 297-2781
Vilas, NC 28692
(828) 297-2781
Grades: PK-8
| 297 students
Rank: #99.
Bethel Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
138 Bethel School Rd
Sugar Grove, NC 28679
(828) 297-2240
Sugar Grove, NC 28679
(828) 297-2240
Grades: PK-8
| 143 students
Rank: #1010.
Green Valley Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
189 Big Hill Road
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-3606
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-3606
Grades: PK-8
| 268 students
Rank: #1111.
Mabel Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
404 Mabel School Road
Zionville, NC 28698
(828) 297-2512
Zionville, NC 28698
(828) 297-2512
Grades: PK-8
| 146 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Watauga County Schools School District?
Watauga County Schools School District manages 11 public schools serving 4,746 students.
What is the rank of Watauga County Schools School District?
Watauga County Schools School District is ranked #62 out of 320 school districts in North Carolina (top 20%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 20%), Highest math proficiency (Top 20%), Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%) and Lowest student:teacher ratio (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Watauga County Schools School District?
83% of Watauga County Schools School District students are White, 11% of students are Hispanic, 3% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Watauga County Schools School District?
Watauga County Schools School District has a student/teacher ratio of 11:1, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 15:1.
What is Watauga County Schools School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $11,930 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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