Watauga County Schools School District
School District · Boone, North Carolina
Avg Rating
7.3
out of 10
Schools
11
9 elem, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,003
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
Avg Rating
7.3
out of 10
Schools
11
9 elem, 2 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,003
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
Evaluating Watauga County Schools?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Watauga County Schools as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Watauga High
Boone · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Blowing Rock Elementary
Blowing Rock · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Parkway Elementary
Boone · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
North Carolina rank
#8 of 116
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+1.1
above North Carolina avg
Per-pupil spending
$13,003
$109 vs North Carolina median
District size
4,746 students
Typical than North Carolina median
The short answer
Watauga County Schools ranks #8 of 116 North Carolina districts by overall school rating. Watauga County Schools's schools with real test data average 7.3/10 across 10 schools. Its top-rated schools are Watauga High (8.7/10), Blowing Rock Elementary (8.4/10), and Parkway Elementary (8.2/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.4/10 despite 55% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.7 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Watauga County Schools schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Watauga County Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (10 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watauga High | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Blowing Rock Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Parkway Elementary | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Watauga Innovation Academy | 7.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Hardin Park Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Bethel Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Cove Creek Elementary | 7.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Valle Crucis Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Green Valley Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Mabel Elementary | 5.4 / 10 |
See all 11 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Watauga County Schools
Watauga County Schools is a Boone, North Carolina school district serving 11 schools. The district educates 4,746 students with a student-teacher ratio of 12:1. The district invests $13,003 per student annually.
With an average rating of 7.3/10, Watauga County Schools is among the strongest-performing districts in the state.
The highest-rated school in the district is Watauga High, which has a composite score of 8.7/10.
In standardized testing, Watauga County Schools students show an average math proficiency of 61.1% and ELA proficiency of 62.5%.
The district includes 9 elementary schools , and 2 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Watauga County Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Watauga County Schools with test data.
Schools in Watauga County Schools
11 schools Elementary Schools 9
High Schools 2
District Details
- State
- North Carolina
- City
- Boone
- Total Enrollment
- 4,746
- Teachers (FTE)
- 396
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Watauga County Schools?
Watauga County Schools has 11 schools in total — 9 elementary, and 2 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Watauga County Schools?
The average composite rating for Watauga County Schools is 7.3/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Watauga County Schools?
Watauga County Schools spends $13,003 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Watauga County Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Watauga County Schools is 12:1.
What is the top-rated school in Watauga County Schools?
Watauga High is the highest-rated school in Watauga County Schools with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What are the test scores in Watauga County Schools?
Across schools in Watauga County Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 61.1% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 62.5%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Watauga County Schools compare to other districts in North Carolina?
Watauga County Schools has an average school rating of 7.3/10 across 11 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in North Carolina by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 7.3/10
- Math Proficiency
- 61.1%
- ELA Proficiency
- 62.5%
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in NC
Compare Watauga County Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Wake County Schools (197)
- Charlotte-mecklenburg Schools (184)
- Guilford County Schools (124)
- Cumberland County Schools (86)
- Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools (81)
- Durham Public Schools (56)
- Gaston County Schools (56)
- Union County Public Schools (52)
- Johnston County Public Schools (48)
- Buncombe County Schools (45)
- Cabarrus County Schools (44)
- New Hanover County Schools (42)
- Pitt County Schools (40)
- Onslow County Schools (39)
- Alamance-burlington Schools (38)
- Iredell-statesville Schools (38)
- Public Schools of Robeson County (37)
- Davidson County Schools (35)
- Wayne County Public Schools (33)
- Randolph County School System (32)
- Rowan-salisbury Schools (32)
- Harnett County Schools (29)
- Catawba County Schools (28)
- Cleveland County Schools (28)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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