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Cove Creek Elementary

Q: Is Cove Creek Elementary a good school?

Cove Creek Elementary ranks 451 st of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

451^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 70% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Cove Creek Elementary is a small PK–8 school in Vilas, NC, in the mountains just north of Boone, serving about 289 students within Watauga County Schools. The school earns 3 stars and ranks in the 70th percentile statewide (#451 of 1,492 North Carolina elementary schools) — solidly in the upper third of the state, though middle-of-the-pack within Watauga's own elementary lineup. It trails district leaders such as Blowing Rock Elementary, Hardin Park Elementary, and Parkway Elementary while outperforming nearby Green Valley Elementary, Bethel Elementary, and Mabel Elementary. Attendance is a clear strength: chronic absenteeism is 12.7%, roughly half the statewide rate of 24.2%. The student-teacher ratio is a favorable 12.6 to 1, and 41.2% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Like many small schools, Cove Creek's test scores swing sharply from year to year because each grade has only about 30 students. The clearest example: 4th-grade math proficiency dropped to 30% in 2025–2026 — far below the district's 66.1% — after the same grade posted 84.8% the previous year. A single tough cohort, rather than a systemic problem, likely explains the dip, since 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th grades all scored between 75% and 81.6% in math. The 8th grade deserves attention, however: math proficiency sits at 52.2% versus 62.6% districtwide, and 8th-grade science trails Watauga's average by more than 12 points.

Cove Creek has shown it can perform at a higher level. Its best recent ranking came in 2016–2017, when it placed in the 82nd percentile, and after dipping to the 58th percentile in 2022–2023, it rebounded to the low 70s. There are also pockets of excellence: male students currently rank at the 81st percentile statewide (4 stars), and in the most recent years data were available, students with disabilities ranked in the 90th–92nd percentiles (5 stars). Just 10 miles away, Banner Elk Elementary serves a student body with far higher poverty in Avery County Schools yet ranks in the 92nd percentile — a reminder that Cove Creek's current standing is not its ceiling. With strong attendance, small class sizes, and a track record of higher achievement, the school has solid foundations to build on.

289

Students ?

12.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

41.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

930 Vanderpool Rd
Vilas, NC 28692

(828) 297-2781

District: Watauga County Schools

Students who attend Cove Creek Elementary usually attend:

High:

Watauga High

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.2%

Hispanic:

7.6%

Asian:

3.1%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Cove Creek Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 68th percentile in 2016 → 70th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (68% vs 59% meeting standards)

✓Above the North Carolina median (70th percentile)

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school68%

District avg69%

North Carolina avg59%

Elementary school

451^st of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Top 30%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

144^th of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 19%▲ up 24 pts since 2016

From top 42% (2016) to top 19% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

46^th of 246Watauga County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	68.4	451 of 1492	69.8%	★★★☆☆
2025	66.6	457 of 1490	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.3	420 of 1505	72.1%	★★★★☆
2023	57.6	630 of 1502	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.6	439 of 1514	71.0%	★★★★☆
2021	52.7	672 of 1489	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.5	497 of 1473	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.0	425 of 1434	70.4%	★★★★☆
2017	78.4	252 of 1429	82.4%	★★★★☆
2016	65.8	459 of 1425	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	79.4	250 of 1440	82.6%	★★★★☆
2014	71.5	367 of 1390	73.6%	★★★★☆
2013	64.8	440 of 1403	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	55.8	678 of 1388	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	69.1	433 of 1381	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	73.6	321 of 1363	76.4%	★★★★☆
2009	75.0	293 of 1354	78.4%	★★★★☆
2008	73.8	287 of 1324	78.3%	★★★★☆
2007	74.2	275 of 1293	78.7%	★★★★☆
2006	79.2	187 of 1276	85.3%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2019	78.8	85 of 878	90.3%	★★★★★
2018	83.2	71 of 897	92.1%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	61.2	513 of 1447	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.5	499 of 1451	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.5	374 of 1455	74.3%	★★★★☆
2023	68.1	412 of 1459	71.8%	★★★★☆
2022	70.9	357 of 1458	75.5%	★★★★☆
2021	54.3	620 of 1440	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.8	562 of 1424	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	54.3	675 of 1405	52.0%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	62.6	441 of 1434	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	55.5	570 of 1437	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.2	579 of 1450	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	24.8	1174 of 1437	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	61.8	453 of 1361	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.1	513 of 1332	61.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	76.4	279 of 1451	80.8%	★★★★☆
2025	70.7	367 of 1450	74.7%	★★★★☆
2024	64.2	489 of 1464	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.7	845 of 1461	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	71.7	360 of 1464	75.4%	★★★★☆
2021	57.0	594 of 1444	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	65.1	451 of 1430	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	75.7	280 of 1413	80.2%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	49.8	597 of 1146	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	44.3	693 of 1172	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	48.2	637 of 1166	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.0	853 of 1183	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	44.0	692 of 1194	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	28.3	900 of 1172	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	34.7	854 of 1183	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.6	793 of 1178	32.7%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	78.3	144 of 778	81.5%	★★★★☆
2025	73.8	174 of 773	77.5%	★★★★☆
2024	71.0	200 of 793	74.8%	★★★★☆
2023	58.3	301 of 784	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.0	283 of 786	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.3	292 of 741	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	75.5	155 of 737	79.0%	★★★★☆
2018	79.4	117 of 691	83.1%	★★★★☆
2017	82.5	95 of 694	86.3%	★★★★☆
2016	57.9	291 of 692	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	60.3	272 of 705	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	64.3	195 of 627	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	65.7	188 of 673	72.1%	★★★★☆
2012	70.8	187 of 662	71.8%	★★★★☆
2011	75.7	134 of 648	79.3%	★★★★☆
2010	77.3	119 of 640	81.4%	★★★★☆
2009	80.2	99 of 630	84.3%	★★★★☆
2008	82.2	74 of 620	88.1%	★★★★☆
2007	83.8	41 of 606	93.2%	★★★★★
2006	87.0	28 of 598	95.3%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	81.6	109 of 731	85.1%	★★★★☆
2025	85.3	84 of 733	88.5%	★★★★☆
2024	82.5	105 of 738	85.8%	★★★★☆
2023	61.5	256 of 731	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.4	248 of 733	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.0	328 of 706	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	59.9	276 of 684	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	80.5	101 of 656	84.6%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	58.4	255 of 729	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.3	382 of 743	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.7	351 of 735	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	70.6	129 of 689	81.3%	★★★★☆
2021	76.4	85 of 633	86.6%	★★★★☆
2019	71.0	128 of 639	80.0%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	90.7	48 of 736	93.5%	★★★★★
2025	57.5	288 of 733	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.4	316 of 751	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.0	344 of 747	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.5	291 of 748	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.3	260 of 711	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	84.9	78 of 697	88.8%	★★★★☆
2018	69.2	190 of 665	71.4%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	58.3	265 of 644	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	50.9	309 of 649	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.0	328 of 652	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.3	404 of 656	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.9	390 of 658	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	31.0	459 of 632	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	54.3	280 of 624	55.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.5	249 of 596	58.2%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Disabled (2019)90th percentile+24 vs school

Male (2026)81st percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)69th percentile~ school

Female (2026)65th percentile-5 vs school

White (2026)48th percentile-22 vs school

Middle school

Male (2026)93rd percentile+12 vs school

Female (2026)85th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)65th percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)59th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics70%+10 vs state

Science67%~ state avg

Reading67%+11 vs state

4.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

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2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Saturday, May 21, 2011

I love the school . The teachers care and the classes are small. Close Quote

by a parent on FaceBook
Tuesday, January 18, 2011

I believe this school is great! They do all they can to do what is best for each and every child. One of my sons have disabilities and they go above and beyond to meet his educational needs as well as those of the other children. All three of my children are in great hands! Close Quote

Schools Near Cove Creek Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				EOG Mathematics (2026)						EOG Reading (2026)						EOG Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOG Mathematics 3rd Grade	EOG Mathematics 4th Grade	EOG Mathematics 5th Grade	EOG Mathematics 6th Grade	EOG Mathematics 7th Grade	EOG Mathematics 8th Grade	EOG Reading 3rd Grade	EOG Reading 4th Grade	EOG Reading 5th Grade	EOG Reading 6th Grade	EOG Reading 7th Grade	EOG Reading 8th Grade	EOG Science 5th Grade	EOG Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Cove Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	930 Vanderpool Rd	Vilas	28692	Watauga County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 297-2781	289	23	12.6	41.2%	252 (87.2%)	2 (0.7%)	22 (7.6%)	9 (3.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	68.4	451^st of 1492 public elementary schools	69.8%		66.6	457^th of 1490 public elementary schools	69.3%	6	80.6	30.0	75.0	76.0	81.6	52.2	66.7	40.0	68.8	76.0	76.3	65.2	68.8	65.2	$12,375	$859	$11,515
Valle Crucis Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	2736 Broadstone Road	Banner Elk	28604	Avery County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 263-1821	345	27	12.5	40.3%	285 (82.6%)	4 (1.2%)	48 (13.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.7%)	68.5	450^th of 1492 public elementary schools	69.8%		66.4	462^nd of 1490 public elementary schools	69.0%	12	76.7	60.4	71.0	73.2	73.2	65.9	50.0	56.3	71.0	78.0	65.9	68.2	74.2	79.5	$10,351	$520	$9,831
Mabel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	404 Mabel School Road	Zionville	28698	Watauga County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 297-2512	140	16	8.8	66.4%	128 (91.4%)	1 (0.7%)	6 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.6%)	46.3	798^th of 1492 public elementary schools	46.5%		47.2	794^th of 1490 public elementary schools	46.7%	4	40.0	86.7	57.9	72.7	64.3		40.0	73.3	47.4	45.5	50.0		57.9		$13,398	$1,416	$11,982
Hardin Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	361 Jefferson Road	Boone	28607	Watauga County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 264-8481	854	73	11.7	41.6%	599 (70.1%)	21 (2.5%)	143 (16.7%)	50 (5.9%)	4 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (4.3%)	76.7	288^th of 1492 public elementary schools	80.7%		72.7	350^th of 1490 public elementary schools	76.5%	62	65.6	72.1	70.4	75.3	81.6	67.3	65.6	72.1	70.4	68.2	77.0	68.5	79.6	81.3	$11,487	$1,000	$10,486
Green Valley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	189 Big Hill Road	Boone	28607	Watauga County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 264-3606	292	28	10.6	64.4%	254 (87.0%)	1 (0.3%)	19 (6.5%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.5%)	45.6	813^th of 1492 public elementary schools	45.5%		39.9	920^th of 1490 public elementary schools	38.3%	107	65.2	62.1	53.1	48.4	58.1	41.4	52.2	62.1	56.3	48.4	61.3	55.2	59.4	62.1	$11,237	$1,247	$9,990
Bethel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	138 Bethel School Rd	Sugar Grove	28679	Watauga County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 297-2240	128	17	7.7	55.5%	115 (89.8%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (7.0%)	46.9	785^th of 1492 public elementary schools	47.4%		60.8	550^th of 1490 public elementary schools	63.1%	235	43.8	38.5	50.0	78.6	75.0	50.0	50.0	46.2	80.0	64.3	58.3	80.0	70.0	90.0	$14,795	$1,301	$13,494
Two Rivers Community School	Public, Charter	K-8	1018 Archie Carroll Road	Boone	28607	Watauga County	Two Rivers Community School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(828) 262-5411	163	12	13.5		146 (89.6%)	2 (1.2%)	4 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.7%)	63.4	530^th of 1492 public elementary schools	64.5%		69.1	406^th of 1490 public elementary schools	72.8%	124	52.9	44.4	76.5	83.3		50.0	47.1	55.6	70.6	91.7		62.5	70.6	75.0
Blowing Rock Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	165 Morris Street	Blowing Rock	28605	Watauga County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 295-3204	409	28	14.6	20.0%	371 (90.7%)	2 (0.5%)	25 (6.1%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.5%)	81.8	221^st of 1492 public elementary schools	85.2%		84.3	187^th of 1490 public elementary schools	87.4%	34	92.5	85.7	87.1	57.8	66.0	73.3	77.5	65.3	83.9	57.8	68.0	83.3	93.5	76.7	$10,946	$628	$10,318
Banner Elk Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	155 Orchard Lane	Banner Elk	28604	Avery County	Avery County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(828) 737-5700	159	10	15.3	92.5%	139 (87.4%)	2 (1.3%)	14 (8.8%)	4 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	89.9	114^th of 1492 public elementary schools	92.4%		90.5	104^th of 1490 public elementary schools	93.0%	10	81.0	90.0	83.3				81.0	83.3	83.3				72.2		$11,831	$1,739	$10,092
Parkway Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	160 Parkway School Dr	Boone	28607	Watauga County	Watauga County Schools	No	No	No	No	(828) 264-3032	610	42	14.5	35.4%	503 (82.5%)	2 (0.3%)	76 (12.5%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.9%)	74.1	335^th of 1492 public elementary schools	77.5%		78.7	266^th of 1490 public elementary schools	82.1%	69	72.3	61.2	70.6	89.2	77.9	62.5	56.9	64.2	67.6	78.5	67.6	66.7	77.9	80.6	$9,618	$414	$9,204

Frequently Asked Questions about Cove Creek Elementary

What district is Cove Creek Elementary in?

Watauga County Schools

Is Cove Creek Elementary a good school?

Cove Creek Elementary ranks 451^st of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Cove Creek Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 289 students attended Cove Creek Elementary.

What schools do graduates of Cove Creek Elementary attend?

Students who attend Cove Creek Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Watauga High

What is the racial makeup of Cove Creek Elementary?

Students at Cove Creek Elementary are 87% White, 8% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 1% Two or more races.

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Latest North Carolina data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 2, 2026

2025–26 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 2, 2026

2016–17 through 2024–25 graduation ratesSep 3, 2025

2024–25 EOC & EOG test scoresSep 3, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.