Excellent
#169 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 6% in state
Watauga High
High School · Watauga County Schools · Boone, NC
A Watauga County Schools high school where students score 15 points above what's typical for similar communities.
300 Go Pioneers Drive, Boone, NC 28607
- Math 88% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 76% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 91.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Watauga High score 82% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 20 points since 2019, reaching 82% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 63% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 71% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
33.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Watauga High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 17Car-Dependent
- Bike 27Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated999/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Boone), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$44,132
Median home value
$339,200
Median rent
$1,081/mo
College educated
53.8%
Homeownership
50%
Poverty rate
34.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 28607; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga Innovation AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | 9–12 | 0.0 mi | 305 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Watauga County Schools
- Schools in district
- 11
- Rank in district
- #1 of 10
- District spending per student
- $13,003NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Watauga High is listed in Watauga County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Watauga High
Watauga High is a public high school in Boone, NC, part of Watauga County Schools, serving approximately 1,279 students in grades 9th-12th with a 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10 and ranks #169 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Watauga High
What grades does Watauga High serve?
Watauga High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Watauga High?
Watauga High has an enrollment of approximately 1,279 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watauga High?
The student-teacher ratio at Watauga High is 12.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Watauga High rank in NC?
Watauga High ranks #169 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Watauga High's MySchoolScout rating?
Watauga High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Watauga High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Watauga High has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Watauga High a charter school?
No, Watauga High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Watauga High a Title I school?
No, Watauga High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Watauga High?
33.1% of students at Watauga High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,279
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 104
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Watauga County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.0%
- Phone
- (828) 264-2407
- 4-Year Graduation
- 91.0%
- Area population (ZIP 28607)
- 35,504
- Area average commute
- 17.7 min
- Area median age
- 23.7
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 28607; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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