Schools

Watauga County is home to eight K-8 Elementary Schools and one high school serving about to 4,550 students. Each school houses an active PTSA system, as well as celebrating the teacher of the year award. http://www.watauga.k12.nc.us

Bethel Elementary

Set in a Baptist community, most residents in the area commute to work in Boone. Originally beginning as a two-room school house in the 1700’s, the school grew to house both elementary and high school students until 1965, when it solely became an elementary school.

138 Bethel School Road
Sugar Grove, NC 28679
Principal: Randy Bentley
http://www.watauga.k12.nc.us/be/be.htm

Green Valley Elementary
Green Valley Elementary is located approx. 5 miles north of the Boone town limits. The school has a history reaching back to the early 1900’s. Major renovations have been done to the traditional building to improve the school for its students, including two gymnasium renovations, a new library, a new 2-story classroom wing was added on one side with a new modern media center and computer lab. The building was wired for a computer network and telecommunications as well. A variety of sports and recreational activities, such as an active student counsel, are offered for the students.

189 Big Hill Road
Boone, NC 28607
Principal: Phillip Griffin
http://www.watauga.k12.nc.us/gv/default.htm

Cove Creek Elementary
“Cove Creek School serves 300 students from the Sugar Grove and Vilas communities in Watauga County. Cove Creek offers opportunities for students in visual arts, band, orchestra, vocational education, foreign language, and a variety of athletic and exploratory courses. The school is well-equipped with a variety of technological equipment to enhance and meet the needs to their students. Cove Creek School has been designated a "School of Excellence" by the State Board of Education for the 2003-2004 school year.”

930 Vanderpool Road
Vilas, NC 28692
Principal: Tom Trexler
http://www.watauga.k12.nc.us/cc/

Watauga High School
Watauga High School is located in the heart of Boone and has approximately 1400 students from around the county. The high school is expecting to relocate to a new location in 2010 to allow for the growing number of students. The high school offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities, from their sports programs, clubs, arts and music. Curriculum includes core classes, foreign language, technology and a unique program called the Pioneer Academy that helps prevent at risk students from dropping out. Project Graduation is an annual event which allows students the opportunity to apply practical, real-world skills they will need as they transition to the world of work or post-secondary education.

400 High School Drive
Boone, NC 28607
Principal: Angela Quick
http://www.watauga.k12.nc.us/whs/

Parkway Elementary
Parkway Elementary is located in Boone, close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Housing around 550 students, the school is well connected to its surrounding community. The school launches fundraising events, such as their annual Fall Festival, organized by the PTSA. The school concentrates on the essentials of reading, writing and arithmetic, keeping parents up to date with their accessible website with book recommendations and a media center.

160 Parkway School Drive
Boone, NC 28607
Principal: Billie Hicklin
http://www.watauga.k12.nc.us/pk/

Blowing Rock Elementary
Blowing Rock Elementary is located in the heart of the Blowing Rock community and is one of the new schools in the area, and has been a School of Excellence since 1998. Blowing Rock Elementary has support from its surrounding community when fundraising, such as their annual Fall Festival. Student’s resources include online quizzes and word book. Parent’s resources include Before and After School options and Graduation Project information. Education field trips, such as to Washington DC, happen annually.

PO Box 228 Sunset Drive
Blowing Rock, NC
Principal: Patrick Sukow
http://www.watauga.k12.nc.us/br/

Hardin Park Elementary
Hardin Parks mission is to “develop, nurture, and challenge students to become productive world citizens by engaging them in a positive learning environment.” Serving around 740 students, Hardin Park in undertaking a large Improvement Plan. Outlined and available for public perusal, Hardin Parks Improvement Plan details goals, strategies, time lines and requirements, all which will help in improving a students learning experience. Their media and technology center keeps students up to date on new ways of expanding their learning capabilities.

361 Jefferson Road
Boone, NC 28607
Principal: Mary Smalling
http://www.watauga.k12.nc.us/hp/

Valle Crucis Elementary
Located in beautiful Valle Crucis, Valle Crucis Elementary is proud of their history, sensational scenery, and educational achievements, being named a School of Excellence in 2000. The school serves more than 400 students and offers a wide variety of course, recreational and extra curricular activities, including visual arts, vocational education, band, strings, orchestra and foreign language, and team sports including volleyball and basketball. The school stays community-centered, partnering with a number of community agencies including Watauga County Arts Council, Watauga County Parks and Recreation and Appalachian State University. Online activities for students include fun games to complete when done with homework.

2998 Broadstone Road
Sugar Grove, NC 28679
Principal: Wayne Eberle
http://www.watauga.k12.nc.us/vc/

Mabel Elementary School
Mabel Elementary is a busy school with a full schedule for its students. The school is involved yearly with a Battle of the Books program, Graduation Project, various fund raising activities, Washington DC trips, and their athletics program. The school was recognized as a "School of Excellence with Honors" for the 2004-2005 school year. Mabel has an extending learning program that keeps students minds and bodies involved with their learning. The school also has media outlets that allow their students to explore up to date research.

404 Mabel School Road
Zionville, NC 28698
Principal: Mark Hagaman
http://www.watauga.k12.nc.us/ma/