Top Rankings
Watauga County Schools 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%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 8 public preschools serving 3,067 students in Watauga County Schools. This district's average pre testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Watauga County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 64% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 61% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 18% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
11 Schools
1,007 Schools
# Students
4,658 Students
477,947 Students
# Teachers
336 Teachers
32,759 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Watauga County Schools, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 314 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 90% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#61 out of 325 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)65%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
63%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
74%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)89%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.32
0.73
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
4%
% Hispanic
12%
24%
% Black
1%
25%
% White
82%
40%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $12,174 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,156 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$57 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$57 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$12,174
$11,168
Spending / Student
$12,156
$11,592
Best Watauga County Schools Public Preschools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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
Gr: PK-8 | 409 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #22.
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
Gr: PK-8 | 610 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #33.
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
Gr: PK-8 | 854 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #44.
Valle Crucis Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
175 Pioneer Trail
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 963-4712
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 963-4712
Gr: PK-8 | 345 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #55.
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
Gr: PK-8 | 289 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #66.
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
Gr: PK-8 | 128 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #77.
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
Gr: PK-8 | 292 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #88.
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
Gr: PK-8 | 140 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Recent Articles
How Public Schools Train Staff Each Year
Learn how public schools train staff each year through professional development, safety training, technology instruction, and ongoing educational support.
What Substitute Teachers Experience in Public Schools
Discover what substitute teachers experience in public schools, including daily responsibilities, challenges, rewards, and their role in student success.
How Teachers Collaborate Across Departments in Public Schools
Learn how teachers collaborate across departments to improve student outcomes, strengthen instruction, and prepare students for real-world success.
