- Enrollment
- 2,067
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Ponchatoula, LA
Ponchatoula Junior High School
Federal NCES profile for Ponchatoula Junior High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 220168001317
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ponchatoula Junior High School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Louisiana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Louisiana schools.
- #2 of 7
- public schools in Ponchatoula · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.6:1
- students per teacher
- 54.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Ponchatoula Junior High School has class sizes near the Louisiana median. Computed live against every Louisiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ponchatoula Junior High School ranks #2 of 7 public schools in Ponchatoula, LA.
School address
District: Tangipahoa Parish · Louisiana
NCES ID 220168001317 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-23 students YoY
Ponchatoula Junior High School held near 747 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-23 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 41.2 → 41.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-23 students YoY 220168001317 · Ponchatoula, LA Middle · MID · TRAD
723 enr · 17.6:1 · 54.9% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Ponchatoula High School (2,067 students)
Ponchatoula Junior High School held near 747 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-23 headcount). Teacher FTE added 41.2 → 41.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Louisiana schools → · Find another →
Ponchatoula Junior High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ponchatoula Hi
Ponchatoula High School
2,067 students
- Hammond High M
Hammond High Magnet School
1,606 students
- Hammond Eastsi
Hammond Eastside Magnet
1,340 students
- Champ Cooper E
Champ Cooper Elementary School
1,163 students
- Hammond Westsi
Hammond Westside Montessori
1,022 students
- This school 723
Ponchatoula Junior High School
723 students
What this shows Ponchatoula Junior High School reports 723 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ponchatoula Junior High School compares
Ponchatoula Junior High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Louisiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Louisiana | Louisiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.6:1 | ▲ 5% | 16.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 54.9% | ▼ 12% | 62.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 723 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
723
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
54.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% below the Louisiana average of 62.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 64% in Louisiana - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
55.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,808
per pupil, district-wide
- below Louisiana avg of $16,812
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
128
in-school suspensions + 135 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 36.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 43.0%
African American 40.2%
Hispanic or Latino 11.2%
Two or More 4.4%
Asian 1.1%
Largest group: White at 43.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.9, Ponchatoula Junior High School is more mixed than the Louisiana school average of 43.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Tangipahoa Parish reports $12,808 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ponchatoula Junior High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ponchatoula High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hammond High Magnet School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hammond Eastside Magnet | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Champ Cooper Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hammond Westside Montessori | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ponchatoula Junior High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,606
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,340
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,163
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,022
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~723 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ponchatoula Junior High School
How many students attend Ponchatoula Junior High School?
Ponchatoula Junior High School has 723 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Ponchatoula, LA. CCD year-over-year: 770 (2022-23) → 747 (2023-24), nearly flat (-23).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponchatoula Junior High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponchatoula Junior High School is 17.6:1, which is 5% higher than the Louisiana average of 16.8:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ponchatoula Junior High School?
54.9% of students at Ponchatoula Junior High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Louisiana average of 62.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ponchatoula Junior High School?
The largest demographic group at Ponchatoula Junior High School is White at 43.0% of enrollment, in Ponchatoula, LA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ponchatoula Junior High School?
Ponchatoula Junior High School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ponchatoula Junior High School rank among public schools in Ponchatoula?
By Resource Investment Index, Ponchatoula Junior High School ranks #2 of 7 public schools in Ponchatoula, LA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Ponchatoula on the city page.
What other schools are in Tangipahoa Parish?
Besides Ponchatoula Junior High School, Tangipahoa Parish also operates Ponchatoula High School (2,067 students), Hammond High Magnet School (1,606 students), and Hammond Eastside Magnet (1,340 students). See the Tangipahoa Parish district page for the complete list.