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 2025-26 school year, there are 2 public high schools serving 1,584 students in Watauga County Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Watauga County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 84% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 72% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Watauga County School have a Graduation Rate of 91%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Watauga Innovation Academy, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 17% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
11 Schools
759 Schools
# Students
4,746 Students
565,383 Students
# Teachers
396 Teachers
33,426 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Watauga County Schools, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 320 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
0.30
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
4%
% Hispanic
11%
20%
% Black
1%
24%
% White
83%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,948 is higher than the state median of $11,191. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,930 is higher than the state median of $11,616. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$57 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$57 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,948
$11,191
Spending / Student
$11,930
$11,616
Best Watauga County Schools Public High Schools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Watauga High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
300 Go Pioneers Drive
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-2407
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-2407
Gr: 9-12 | 1,279 student Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #22.
Watauga Innovation Academy
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
300 Go Pioneers Drive
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-2407
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-2407
Gr: 9-12 | 305 students Minority enrollment: 13%
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