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A−

Watauga County Schools

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 4 towns

Serves Boone, Blowing Rock, Beech Mountain and Seven Devils.

Boone’s School Grade A− better than 80% of North Carolina school districts

Students
4,658
Schools
11
Spent per student
$13,322
NC $13,045
Students per teacher
13:1
Free or reduced lunch
39%
Debt
$43.5M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Watauga County Schools

  • Its letter, A−: results better than 80% of North Carolina districts
  • Math proficiency 14 pts above the state
  • Reading proficiency 13 pts above the state
  • 13 students per teacher
  • Debt of $43.5M, about $9,339 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

A−: better than 80% of the 325 North Carolina school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well above the state, 2021–22
A−
GraduationFour-year graduation above the state, class of 2023
B+
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
A−Boone 19,929A−Blowing Rock 1,324Beech Mountain 659Seven Devils 314

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Boone. Grade by grade →

PK–8Hardin Park ElementaryThis district
9–122 high schoolsThis district

Test scores vs. NC

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency65%
State average 50.8% · 2,311 students tested
Reading / language arts63%
State average 49.9% · 2,483 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)91%
State average 86.5% · 371 in the class

100% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$13,322 per student · 2% above NC
Spending
Classroom instruction 64%Support & administration 33%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 29%State 60%Federal 11%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
4,563’20
4,673’21
4,754’22
4,746’23
4,658’24

About steady since 2020–21.

Students
White 82%Hispanic 12%Two or more races 3%Asian 2%Black 1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

11 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools.

Hardin Park Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Boone
B+
854 students12:1
Parkway Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Boone
A−
610 students15:1
Blowing Rock Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Blowing Rock
A
409 students15:1
Valle Crucis Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Boone
B
345 students13:1
Green Valley Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Boone
B−
292 students11:1
Cove Creek Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Vilas
B−
289 students13:1
Mabel Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Zionville
C
140 students9:1
Bethel Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Sugar Grove
B
128 students8:1
Watauga Virtual Academy
Elementary · Grades K–8 · Boone
10 students
Watauga High
High · Grades 9–12 · Boone
A
1,289 students16:1
Watauga Innovation Academy
High · Grades 9–12 · Boone
A−
292 students

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Avery County SchoolsSugar Mountain
$15,855per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within North Carolina.