- Enrollment
- 1,289
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Boone, NC
Watauga Innovation Academy
Federal NCES profile for Watauga Innovation Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370483003376
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 66
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Watauga Innovation Academy earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 99% of North Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most North Carolina schools.
- #7 of 7
- public schools in Boone · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 73:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 33.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Watauga Innovation Academy has class sizes larger than 99% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Watauga Innovation Academy ranks #7 of 7 public schools in Boone, NC.
School address
District: Watauga County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370483003376 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+31 students YoY
Watauga Innovation Academy grew from 274 students in 2022-23 to 305 in 2023-24 (+11.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 4.5 → 0.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+31 students YoY 370483003376 · Boone, NC High · SMALL · TRAD
292 enr · 73:1 · 33.9% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Watauga High (1,289 students)
Watauga Innovation Academy grew from 274 students in 2022-23 to 305 in 2023-24 (+11.3%). Teacher FTE lost 4.5 → 0.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Watauga Innovation Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Watauga High
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
- This school 292
Watauga Innovation Academy
292 students
What this shows Watauga Innovation Academy reports 292 students on the CCD universe file.
How Watauga Innovation Academy compares
Watauga Innovation Academy is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 73:1 | ▲ 362% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.9% | ▼ 49% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 292 | top 78% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
73:1
Leaner classes than 0% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
292
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
33.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
73:1
students per teacher
- 362% above state mean
Top 99% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 1% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
13.7%
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
Counselors0.8 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
23
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 85.3%
Hispanic or Latino 12.3%
Two or More 1.0%
Asian 0.7%
African American 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 85.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 25.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 25.7, Watauga Innovation Academy is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
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 Innovation Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hardin Park Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Parkway Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Blowing Rock Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Valle Crucis Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Watauga Innovation Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 854
- Students per teacher
- 10.9:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
- 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
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 (~292 students)
Frequently asked questions about Watauga Innovation Academy
How many students attend Watauga Innovation Academy?
Watauga Innovation Academy has 292 students enrolled. It is a high school in Boone, NC. CCD year-over-year: 274 (2022-23) → 305 (2023-24), up 31.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watauga Innovation Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Watauga Innovation Academy is 73:1, which is 362% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 365% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Watauga Innovation Academy?
33.9% of students at Watauga Innovation Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Watauga Innovation Academy?
The largest demographic group at Watauga Innovation Academy is White at 85.3% of enrollment, in Boone, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Watauga Innovation Academy?
Watauga Innovation Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical 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 Innovation Academy rank among public schools in Boone?
By Resource Investment Index, Watauga Innovation Academy ranks #7 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 Innovation Academy, Watauga County Schools also operates Watauga High (1,289 students), Hardin Park Elementary (854 students), and Parkway Elementary (610 students). See the Watauga County Schools district page for the complete list.