- Enrollment
- 557
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Ponder, TX
Ponder El
Federal NCES profile for Ponder El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 483531003991
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ponder El earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Texas median.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Ponder · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.8:1
- students per teacher
- 36.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Ponder El has class sizes near the Texas median. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ponder El ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Ponder, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+19 students YoY
Ponder El held near 773 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+19 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 49.7 → 51.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+19 students YoY 483531003991 · Ponder, TX Other · MID · TRAD
773 enr · 15.8:1 · 36.6% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Ponder H S (557 students)
Ponder El held near 773 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+19 headcount). Teacher FTE added 49.7 → 51.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Ponder El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Ponder El
773 students
- Ponder H S
Ponder H S
557 students
- Ponder J H
Ponder J H
389 students
What this shows Ponder El reports 773 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ponder El compares
Ponder El held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▲ 7% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.6% | ▼ 41% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 773 | top 21% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
773
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% below the Texas average of 61.9%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 7% above state mean
Top 69% in Texas - lower ratio than 31% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
13.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$11,102
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 387 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 56.1%
Hispanic or Latino 38.8%
Two or More 3.6%
African American 1.0%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 56.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.3, Ponder El is more mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Ponder Isd reports $11,102 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ponder El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ponder H S | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ponder J H | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ponder El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 389
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Nationwide other 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 (~773 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ponder El
How many students attend Ponder El?
Ponder El has 773 students enrolled. It is a public school in Ponder, TX. CCD year-over-year: 754 (2022-23) → 773 (2023-24), nearly flat (+19).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponder El?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponder El is 15.8:1, which is 7% higher than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ponder El?
36.6% of students at Ponder El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ponder El?
The largest demographic group at Ponder El is White at 56.1% of enrollment, in Ponder, TX. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ponder El?
Ponder El has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ponder El rank among public schools in Ponder?
By Resource Investment Index, Ponder El ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Ponder, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Ponder Isd?
Besides Ponder El, Ponder Isd also operates Ponder H S (557 students) and Ponder J H (389 students). See the Ponder Isd district page for the complete list.