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Hardin Park Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-8
288th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools
Better than 81% of North Carolina elementary schools
Summary

Hardin Park Elementary is a large PK-8 school in Boone, NC, serving 854 students under Watauga County Schools, a district that ranks in the top fifth of North Carolina districts. The school holds a consistent 4-star rating, ranking 288th of 1,492 elementary schools statewide (81st percentile) on the 2025-2026 state ranking. Only Blowing Rock Elementary places higher among nearby district elementary schools. Over the past decade, Hardin Park has never dipped below the 76th percentile, demonstrating dependable schoolwide systems rather than reliance on a single standout class.

Academically, Hardin Park's standout performance comes in the middle grades. Its 7th grade math proficiency was 81.6% and 7th grade reading reached 77.0%, well above district and state averages. Eighth grade science (81.3%) and 5th grade science (79.6%) also outpaced the state by wide margins. The school is roughly two times larger than Parkway Elementary and more than six times larger than Bethel Elementary, yet it outperforms most of its smaller neighbors. Its student-teacher ratio is a favorable 11.7-to-1, and about 41.6% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — double the rate at Blowing Rock Elementary but far below local peer schools like Mabel Elementary (66.4%) and Green Valley Elementary (64.4%).

That said, the overall ranking masks a considerable equity gap. Hispanic students rank in the 28th percentile statewide, low-income students place in the 55th percentile, and special education students fell sharply to the 14th percentile in the latest data — a steep drop from earlier years, though this may be affected by small cohort sizes. Chronic absenteeism is another weak spot: the rate climbed to 16.8% in 2024-2025, well above the district rate of 12.1% and more than three times Parkway Elementary's 5.3%, even though Parkway ranks only slightly lower academically. Still, Hardin Park's absenteeism remains below the state average of 24.2%, and the school as a whole continues to deliver strong results year after year.

854
Students ?
11.7
Student/teacher ratio ?
41.6%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 361 Jefferson Road
       Boone, NC  28607-9320

(828) 264-8481

District: Watauga County Schools


Students who attend Hardin Park Elementary usually attend:

High:    Watauga High
Racial breakdown:

White:
70.1%
Hispanic:
16.7%
Asian:
5.9%
more
 See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

 Compare Hardin Park Elementary to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 85th percentile in 2016 → 81st in 2026
Strengths
✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (72% vs 59% meeting standards)
✓Ranks in the top 19% of North Carolina elementary schools
✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher
Worth a look
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school72%
District avg69%
North Carolina avg59%
Elementary school
288th of 1,492
North Carolina public elementary schools ?
Top 19%▼ down 4 pts since 2016
From top 15% (2016) to top 19% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
104th of 778
North Carolina public middle schools ?
Top 13%▼ down 8 pts since 2016
From top 6% (2016) to top 13% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
46th 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

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202676.7288 of 149280.7%★★★★☆
202572.7350 of 149076.5%★★★★☆
202479.3251 of 150583.3%★★★★☆
202378.7259 of 150282.8%★★★★☆
202281.1231 of 151484.7%★★★★☆
202175.8302 of 148979.7%★★★★☆
201980.5226 of 147384.7%★★★★☆
201878.4246 of 143482.8%★★★★☆
201773.6343 of 142976.0%★★★★☆
201680.8211 of 142585.2%★★★★☆
201582.2196 of 144086.4%★★★★☆
201477.5279 of 139079.9%★★★★☆
201382.7194 of 140386.2%★★★★☆
201274.7304 of 138878.1%★★★★☆
201170.7388 of 138171.9%★★★★☆
201077.9240 of 136382.4%★★★★☆
200977.0258 of 135480.9%★★★★☆
200879.9183 of 132486.2%★★★★☆
200768.9371 of 129371.3%★★★★☆
200677.4210 of 127683.5%★★★★☆

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202270.1106 of 63483.3%★★★★☆
202145.2294 of 64654.5%★★★☆☆
201983.262 of 87892.9%★★★★★
201874.6115 of 89787.2%★★★★☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202539.4334 of 56340.7%★★☆☆☆
202430.5416 of 53322.0%★☆☆☆☆
202330.1376 of 51426.8%★☆☆☆☆
201951.4193 of 49761.2%★★★☆☆
201852.7148 of 42164.8%★★★☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202668.5387 of 144773.3%★★★★☆
202565.8435 of 145170.0%★★★★☆
202473.5307 of 145578.9%★★★★☆
202377.7253 of 145982.7%★★★★☆
202284.2165 of 145888.7%★★★★☆
202180.5217 of 144084.9%★★★★☆
201978.2238 of 142483.3%★★★★☆
201878.4250 of 140582.2%★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202661.8294 of 74360.4%★★★☆☆
202568.9154 of 71078.3%★★★★☆
202469.6120 of 66982.1%★★★★☆
202365.2187 of 58267.9%★★★☆☆
202266.3142 of 50071.6%★★★★☆
202173.273 of 49485.2%★★★★☆
201965.1209 of 61265.8%★★★☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202633.9702 of 98128.4%★☆☆☆☆
202530.0740 of 96123.0%★☆☆☆☆
202419.6857 of 9519.9%☆☆☆☆☆
202332.4655 of 91528.4%★☆☆☆☆
202239.1561 of 89337.2%★★☆☆☆
202133.9583 of 84330.8%★★☆☆☆
201954.6365 of 86557.8%★★★☆☆
201850.8414 of 85151.4%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202651.7649 of 143454.7%★★★☆☆
202560.2476 of 143766.9%★★★☆☆
202461.5470 of 145067.6%★★★☆☆
202361.7466 of 143767.6%★★★☆☆
202267.3325 of 136676.2%★★★★☆
202166.7307 of 132976.9%★★★★☆
201969.0334 of 136175.5%★★★★☆
201866.8361 of 133272.9%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202678.7240 of 145183.5%★★★★☆
202573.6326 of 145077.5%★★★★☆
202479.6236 of 146483.9%★★★★☆
202375.7287 of 146180.4%★★★★☆
202273.3330 of 146477.5%★★★★☆
202166.0453 of 144468.6%★★★☆☆
201980.1214 of 143085.0%★★★★☆
201876.8259 of 141381.7%★★★★☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202623.0699 of 81514.2%★☆☆☆☆
202546.0384 of 82153.2%★★★☆☆
202459.7222 of 80172.3%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202666.8361 of 114668.5%★★★☆☆
202563.7404 of 117265.5%★★★☆☆
202474.9260 of 116677.7%★★★★☆
202373.1283 of 118376.1%★★★★☆
202273.2279 of 119476.6%★★★★☆
202165.3374 of 117268.1%★★★☆☆
201973.0275 of 118376.8%★★★★☆
201869.5346 of 117870.6%★★★★☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202683.1104 of 77886.6%★★★★☆
202584.2100 of 77387.1%★★★★☆
202482.1112 of 79385.9%★★★★☆
202387.879 of 78489.9%★★★★★
202285.098 of 78687.5%★★★★☆
202178.0151 of 74179.6%★★★★☆
201981.0113 of 73784.7%★★★★☆
201887.951 of 69192.6%★★★★★
201792.333 of 69495.2%★★★★★
201691.540 of 69294.2%★★★★★
201586.472 of 70589.8%★★★★☆
201490.645 of 62792.8%★★★★★
201394.728 of 67395.8%★★★★★
201277.5115 of 66282.6%★★★★☆
201175.0145 of 64877.6%★★★★☆
201079.991 of 64085.8%★★★★☆
200982.270 of 63088.9%★★★★☆
200877.4117 of 62081.1%★★★★☆
200774.2121 of 60680.0%★★★★☆
200682.853 of 59891.1%★★★★★

Disabled

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202276.042 of 44990.6%★★★★★
202137.5303 of 47836.6%★★☆☆☆
201969.385 of 50483.1%★★★★☆
201864.981 of 47582.9%★★★★☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202236.0205 of 31234.3%★★☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202679.9122 of 73183.3%★★★★☆
202581.7109 of 73385.1%★★★★☆
202482.0109 of 73885.2%★★★★☆
202388.469 of 73190.6%★★★★★
202284.394 of 73387.2%★★★★☆
202179.4124 of 70682.4%★★★★☆
201979.0123 of 68482.0%★★★★☆
201887.749 of 65692.5%★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202676.023 of 46595.1%★★★★★
202576.930 of 45893.4%★★★★★
202468.1111 of 46175.9%★★★★☆
202375.434 of 45292.5%★★★★★
202277.912 of 45097.3%★★★★★
202182.63 of 44899.3%★★★★★
201973.629 of 41693.0%★★★★★

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202636.3370 of 56634.6%★★☆☆☆
202539.8355 of 56236.8%★★☆☆☆
202438.7370 of 56434.4%★★☆☆☆
202376.579 of 55385.7%★★★★☆
202248.7264 of 54151.2%★★★☆☆
202137.9342 of 52234.5%★★☆☆☆
201939.9323 of 49334.5%★★☆☆☆
201848.5240 of 47249.2%★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202661.5226 of 72568.8%★★★☆☆
202567.8155 of 72978.7%★★★★☆
202467.0182 of 74375.5%★★★★☆
202382.472 of 73590.2%★★★★★
202269.2133 of 68980.7%★★★★☆
202164.3162 of 63374.4%★★★★☆
201950.3308 of 63951.8%★★★☆☆
201868.1142 of 60476.5%★★★★☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202684.094 of 73687.2%★★★★☆
202584.294 of 73387.2%★★★★☆
202480.1124 of 75183.5%★★★★☆
202383.998 of 74786.9%★★★★☆
202282.2114 of 74884.8%★★★★☆
202175.0159 of 71177.6%★★★★☆
201981.0106 of 69784.8%★★★★☆
201887.456 of 66591.6%★★★★★

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202640.2271 of 50045.8%★★☆☆☆
202562.293 of 47880.5%★★★★☆
202469.664 of 47386.5%★★★★☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNorth Carolina percentileRating
202679.2120 of 64481.4%★★★★☆
202577.6126 of 64980.6%★★★★☆
202476.3142 of 65278.2%★★★★☆
202382.3104 of 65684.1%★★★★☆
202282.896 of 65885.4%★★★★☆
202170.0164 of 63274.1%★★★★☆
201973.6149 of 62476.1%★★★★☆
201888.454 of 59690.9%★★★★★
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
Male (2026)83rd percentile+3 vs school
Disabled (2022)83rd percentile~ school
Female (2026)73rd percentile-7 vs school
White (2026)68th percentile-12 vs school
Gifted and Talented (2026)60th percentile-20 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)55th percentile-26 vs school
English Language Learner (2025)41st percentile-36 vs school
Hispanic (2026)28th percentile-52 vs school
Special Education (2026)14th percentile-66 vs school
Middle school
Gifted and Talented (2026)95th percentile+8 vs school
Disabled (2022)91st percentile+3 vs school
Male (2026)87th percentile~ school
Female (2026)83rd percentile-3 vs school
White (2026)81st percentile-5 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)69th percentile-18 vs school
Special Education (2026)46th percentile-41 vs school
Hispanic (2026)35th percentile-52 vs school
English Language Learner (2022)34th percentile-53 vs school
By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?
Science80%+12 vs state
Mathematics72%+12 vs state
Reading70%+14 vs state

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Schools Near Hardin Park Elementary

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Frequently Asked Questions about Hardin Park Elementary

In the 2024-25 school year, 854 students attended Hardin Park Elementary.

Students at Hardin Park Elementary are 70% White, 17% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 4% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Hardin Park Elementary ranks 288th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Hardin Park Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Watauga High

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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.

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