- Enrollment
- 854
- Students per teacher
- 10.9:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Boone, NC
Watauga High
Federal NCES profile for Watauga High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370483001943
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 64
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Watauga High earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 78% of North Carolina schools.
- #3 of 7
- public schools in Boone · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 29.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Watauga High has class sizes smaller than 78% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Watauga High ranks #3 of 7 public schools in Boone, NC.
School address
District: Watauga County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370483001943 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+7 students YoY
Watauga High held near 1,279 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 99.3 → 104.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+7 students YoY 370483001943 · Boone, NC High · MID · TRAD
1,289 enr · 13:1 · 29.3% lunch · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Hardin Park Elementary (854 students)
Watauga High held near 1,279 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount). Teacher FTE added 99.3 → 104.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Watauga High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Watauga High
1,289 students
- Hardin Park El
Hardin Park Elementary
854 students
- Parkway Elemen
Parkway Elementary
610 students
- Blowing Rock E 409
Blowing Rock Elementary
409 students
- Valle Crucis E 345
Valle Crucis Elementary
345 students
- Green Valley E 292
Green Valley Elementary
292 students
What this shows Watauga High reports 1,289 students on the CCD universe file.
How Watauga High compares
Watauga High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13:1 | ▼ 18% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.3% | ▼ 56% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,289 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
1,289
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
29.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 22% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 78% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
14.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$13,003
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.3 FTE
Per 303 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
88
in-school suspensions + 74 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 80.8%
Hispanic or Latino 12.3%
Two or More 2.9%
Asian 2.1%
African American 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 80.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.1, Watauga High is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 23
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Watauga County Schools reports $13,003 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Watauga High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin Park Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Parkway Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Blowing Rock Elementary | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Valle Crucis Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Green Valley Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Watauga High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 610
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 409
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 345
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 292
- Students per teacher
- 9.7:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar high schools in Boone
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,289 students)
Frequently asked questions about Watauga High
How many students attend Watauga High?
Watauga High has 1,289 students enrolled. It is a high school in Boone, NC. CCD year-over-year: 1,272 (2022-23) → 1,279 (2023-24), nearly flat (+7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watauga High?
The student-teacher ratio at Watauga High is 13:1, which is 18% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 17% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Watauga High?
29.3% of students at Watauga High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Watauga High?
The largest demographic group at Watauga High is White at 80.8% of enrollment, in Boone, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Watauga High?
Watauga High has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Watauga High rank among public schools in Boone?
By Resource Investment Index, Watauga High ranks #3 of 7 public schools in Boone, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Boone on the city page.
What other schools are in Watauga County Schools?
Besides Watauga High, Watauga County Schools also operates Hardin Park Elementary (854 students), Parkway Elementary (610 students), and Blowing Rock Elementary (409 students). See the Watauga County Schools district page for the complete list.