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Watauga County

North Carolina · Public K-12

Watauga County, North Carolina reports 12 public K-12 schools to NCES, set against a county population of about 55,123, with a mix of 10 elementary and 2 high.

7-year change in Watauga County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
4,821
+14 (+0%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
12
+1 (+9%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
82%
was 85%
% Hispanic
11%
was 9%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
2%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
12
2 districts
Enrollment
4,821
NCES CCD
Median income
$51,693
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
39.1%
Below North Carolina avg
Elementary
10
3,240 students
Middle
0
schools
High
2
1,581 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Watauga County Schools
4,658 students · 2 districts in Watauga County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Watauga County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
90%
Hispanic
6%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
6%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
82%
Hispanic
11%
Black
1%
Asian
2%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
48.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
7.9%
civilian labor
Median age
31
12.1% under 18

Test scores in Watauga County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.

See all 10 schools in Watauga County ranked by score →

All schools (12)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Watauga HighBooneHigh09-121,289·
Hardin Park ElementaryBooneElementaryPK-08854·
Parkway ElementaryBooneElementaryPK-08610·
Blowing Rock ElementaryBlowing RockElementaryPK-08409·
Valle Crucis ElementaryBooneElementaryPK-08345·
Green Valley ElementaryBooneElementaryPK-08292·
Watauga Innovation AcademyBooneHigh09-12292·
Cove Creek ElementaryVilasElementaryPK-08289·
Two Rivers Community SchoolBooneElementaryKG-08163·
Mabel ElementaryZionvilleElementaryPK-08140·
Bethel ElementarySugar GroveElementaryPK-08128·
Watauga Virtual AcademyBooneElementaryKG-0810·

Cities in Watauga County

Boone8 schoolsBlowing Rock1 schoolSugar Grove1 schoolVilas1 schoolZionville1 school

About Watauga County

Watauga County is a compact county of about 55,123 residents in North Carolina. Its public-school system teaches approximately 4,821 students across 12 schools.

Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $51,693 a year, about 48% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 9%. That income level is 18% meaningfully below the North Carolina median.

On the school-mix side, Watauga County comprises 10 elementary schools (3,240 students), and 2 high schools (1,581).

The largest single district in Watauga County is Watauga County Schools, which alone enrolls about 4,658 students.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 4,821 students, remained close to its prior level from the 4,807 reported in SY 2017-18. Watauga County now counts 12 public schools, up from 11 in SY 2017-18. Demographically, the White share of enrollment shrank from 85% to 82%.

On this page, the community for Watauga County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Watauga County?
Watauga County, North Carolina has 12 public K-12 schools serving approximately 4,821 students.
How many high schools are in Watauga County?
Watauga County, North Carolina has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 1,581 students.
How many elementary schools are in Watauga County?
Watauga County, North Carolina has 10 public elementary schools, serving approximately 3,240 students.
What is the largest school district in Watauga County?
Watauga County Schools is the largest school district in Watauga County, serving approximately 4,658 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
How many people live in Watauga County?
Watauga County has roughly 55,123 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Watauga County?
Median household income in Watauga County is $51,693, below the North Carolina average of $63,182. About 9.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Watauga County?
Approximately 48.1% of adults 25 and older in Watauga County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Watauga County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 39.1% of students in Watauga County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the North Carolina county average of 86.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Watauga County schools?
Across Watauga County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.4 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Watauga County?
Watauga County residents are approximately 90% White, 6% Hispanic, 2% Black, 1% Asian, 6% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.

Watauga County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data