High Country Times

Watauga High School had the highest enrollment among Watauga County schools, welcoming 1,236 students during the 2022-23 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Among the 11 schools in Watauga County, Hardin Park Elementary School ranked second in enrollment numbers with 839 students, while Parkway Elementary School welcomed 638 students and ranked third in the 2022-23 school year.

Watauga High School is part of Watauga County Schools district, which roughly covers institutions within Watauga County and has a main office in Boone.

In the previous school year, Watauga High School also had the highest number of students among Watauga County schools.

Despite boasting a favorable teacher-student ratio of 1:15, surpassing the national average, North Carolina's public schools face a significant funding gap. The state's per-student expenditure of $10,519 falls considerably short of the national average of $14,295.

North Carolina's public schools faced a staggering 58.4% surge in vacant teaching positions in the 2021-22 school year, leaving over 5,000 classrooms without qualified instructors.

School name	City	Total School Enrollment
Watauga High School	Boone	1,236
Hardin Park Elementary School	Boone	839
Parkway Elementary School	Boone	638
Blowing Rock Elementary School	Blowing Rock	411
Valle Crucis Elementary School	Sugar Grove	327
Green Valley Elementary School	Boone	285
Cove Creek Elementary School	Vilas	280
Watauga Innovation Academy	Boone	261
Two Rivers Community School	Boone	162
Bethel Elementary School	Sugar Grove	123
Watauga Virtual Academy	BOONE	42