High Country Times

There were 4,584 students enrolled in Watauga County only district in the 2022-23 school year, 1.2% more than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Watauga County Schools was the only district in Watauga County in the 2022-23 school year.

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 also faced a staggering 58.4% surge in vacant teaching positions in the 2021-22 school year, leaving over 5,000 classrooms without qualified instructors.