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Mabel Elementary

Q: Is Mabel Elementary a good school?

Mabel Elementary ranks 798 th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

798^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,492 North Carolina Elementary Schools

Better than 47% of North Carolina elementary schools

Summary

Mabel Elementary is a very small PK-8 school in Zionville, NC, in the far western portion of Watauga County, serving about 140 students. It belongs to Watauga County Schools, a strong 4-star district ranked 46th among North Carolina's 246 districts. Mabel itself sits at the 47th percentile with a 2-star rating, placing it near the bottom of the district. The school forms a higher-poverty cluster with Bethel Elementary and Green Valley Elementary, while Parkway Elementary, Hardin Park Elementary, and Blowing Rock Elementary earn stronger ratings with far lower poverty rates.

Math performance has improved sharply: Mabel's gap with district math averages narrowed from about 23 points in 2022-2023 to near zero by 2024-2025. Reading remains the stubborn weakness, trailing the district by 15 to 22 points for several consecutive years. In 2025-2026, third-grade reading proficiency was only 40%, compared with 61% district-wide. About two-thirds of Mabel students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the school's low-income subgroup ranking has slipped to the 24th percentile statewide. Mabel is comparatively well-resourced, with an 8.8-to-1 student-teacher ratio and per-pupil spending above $13,000, yet those resources have not fully translated into achievement.

Chronic absenteeism has improved dramatically, from 31.8% in 2021-2022 to 13.6% in 2024-2025, still slightly above the district's 12.1% rate. Small cohorts create dramatic grade-to-grade swings: in the same year third-grade reading sat at 40%, Mabel's fourth-grade cohort posted 73.3% reading and 86.7% math proficiency — above district and state averages. Banner Elk Elementary, roughly 13 miles away, shows what is possible: it serves a student population with more than 92% economic disadvantage yet earns a 5-star rating. Mabel has genuine bright spots and meaningful momentum in math, but closing its persistent reading gap and raising outcomes for economically disadvantaged students remains the central challenge.

140

Students ?

8.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

66.4%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

404 Mabel School Road
Zionville, NC 28698-9708

(828) 297-2512

District: Watauga County Schools

Students who attend Mabel Elementary usually attend:

High:

Watauga High

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.4%

Hispanic:

4.3%

Two or more races:

3.6%

See top rated North Carolina elementary schools

Compare Mabel Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 29th percentile in 2019 → 47th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 47th (2026) from a 29th-percentile low (2019)

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school57%

District avg69%

North Carolina avg59%

Elementary school

798^th of 1,492

North Carolina public elementary schools ?

Bottom 47%▼ down 21 pts since 2016

From top 33% (2016) to bottom 47% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

351^st of 778

North Carolina public middle schools ?

Top 45%▬ steady since 2016

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	46.3	798 of 1492	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	47.2	794 of 1490	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	40.8	918 of 1505	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.9	971 of 1502	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.8	846 of 1514	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	34.4	953 of 1489	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.7	1039 of 1473	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	59.3	587 of 1434	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.4	418 of 1429	70.7%	★★★★☆
2016	65.6	464 of 1425	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2015	55.4	653 of 1440	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2014	58.7	560 of 1390	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	54.1	598 of 1403	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	66.0	479 of 1388	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	69.0	437 of 1381	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	83.8	135 of 1363	90.1%	★★★★★
2009	73.7	324 of 1354	76.1%	★★★★☆
2008	88.1	87 of 1324	93.4%	★★★★★
2007	67.6	397 of 1293	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2006	71.7	312 of 1276	75.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	51.5	703 of 1459	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	38.2	857 of 1440	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.7	1067 of 1424	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	60.3	581 of 1405	58.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	31.9	1083 of 1434	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	39.4	929 of 1450	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	45.0	814 of 1437	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.2	988 of 1361	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	36.8	916 of 1332	31.2%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	36.2	956 of 1451	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.6	868 of 1464	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.0	1023 of 1430	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	46.5	819 of 1413	42.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	26.4	937 of 1146	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.2	976 of 1172	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	23.4	987 of 1166	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.7	1073 of 1183	9.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	22.1	1026 of 1194	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.2	1092 of 1172	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.1	1123 of 1183	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	34.9	863 of 1178	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	55.1	351 of 778	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	58.0	298 of 773	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.0	322 of 793	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	31.6	542 of 784	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.7	498 of 786	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.2	550 of 741	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	59.7	290 of 737	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	77.4	133 of 691	80.8%	★★★★☆
2017	63.1	247 of 694	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	54.6	315 of 692	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2015	47.7	383 of 705	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2014	71.5	153 of 627	75.6%	★★★★☆
2013	61.8	225 of 673	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	70.5	190 of 662	71.3%	★★★★☆
2011	69.1	207 of 648	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	80.5	88 of 640	86.3%	★★★★☆
2009	86.9	27 of 630	95.7%	★★★★★
2008	85.0	56 of 620	91.0%	★★★★★
2007	73.8	125 of 606	79.4%	★★★★☆
2006	84.9	41 of 598	93.1%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	59.4	277 of 731	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.3	384 of 706	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	93.6	21 of 656	96.8%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2023	33.8	509 of 735	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.0	479 of 633	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	62.7	187 of 639	70.7%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	57.0	298 of 748	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	22.9	558 of 711	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	54.7	316 of 697	54.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2026	37.3	427 of 644	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.4	401 of 649	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.2	429 of 652	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	15.5	599 of 656	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	17.2	592 of 658	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	8.3	611 of 632	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	37.8	413 of 624	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	58.3	244 of 596	59.1%	★★★☆☆

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

Female (2023)52nd percentile+16 vs school

Male (2026)34th percentile-12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)24th percentile-22 vs school

White (2026)18th percentile-28 vs school

Middle school

Female (2023)62nd percentile+31 vs school

Male (2022)60th percentile+24 vs school

White (2026)34th percentile-21 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2023)31st percentile~ school

By subject vs North Carolina (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics64%~ state avg

Science58%-10 vs state

Reading51%-5 vs state

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, January 18, 2011

I feel there is a huge lack of parent communication. My step-daughter attends Mabel and no matter how involved we try to be her teachers barely give us the time of day. Close Quote

Schools Near Mabel 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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Westwood Elementary	Public	K-6	4083 US Hwy 221S	West Jefferson	28694	Ashe County	Ashe County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(336) 649-8210	451	33	13.7	—	371 (82.3%)	2 (0.4%)	71 (15.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.3%)	59.3	595^th of 1492 public elementary schools	60.1%		65.6	476^th of 1490 public elementary schools	68.1%	119	77.4	55.6	54.1	88.7			64.5	57.1	54.1	66.0			63.5		$10,638	$1,144	$9,494

Frequently Asked Questions about Mabel Elementary

Is Mabel Elementary a good school?

Mabel Elementary ranks 798^th of 1492 North Carolina elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Mabel Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 140 students attended Mabel Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Mabel Elementary?

Students at Mabel Elementary are 91% White, 4% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Mabel Elementary in?

Watauga County Schools

What schools do graduates of Mabel Elementary attend?

Students who attend Mabel 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.