- Enrollment
- 2,594
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Houston, TX
Ponderosa El
Federal NCES profile for Ponderosa El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 484122004718
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 14
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ponderosa El earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Texas median.
- #218 of 435
- schools in Houston · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.7:1
- students per teacher
- 80.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Ponderosa El has class sizes near the Texas median. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ponderosa El ranks #218 of 435 schools in Houston, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-46 students YoY
Ponderosa El shrank from 784 students in 2022-23 to 738 in 2023-24 (-5.9%).
Teacher FTE added 47.9 → 53.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-46 students YoY 484122004718 · Houston, TX Other · MID · TRAD
740 enr · 15.7:1 · 80.2% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Spring H S (2,594 students)
Ponderosa El shrank from 784 students in 2022-23 to 738 in 2023-24 (-5.9%). Teacher FTE added 47.9 → 53.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Ponderosa El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Spring H S
Spring H S
2,594 students
- Andy Dekaney H
Andy Dekaney H S
2,485 students
- Westfield H S
Westfield H S
2,264 students
- Carl Wunsche S
Carl Wunsche Sr H S
1,503 students
- Rickey C Baile 982
Rickey C Bailey Middle
982 students
- This school 740
Ponderosa El
740 students
What this shows Ponderosa El reports 740 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ponderosa El compares
Ponderosa El is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.7:1 | ▲ 7% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 80.2% | ▲ 30% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 740 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
740
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
80.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% above the Texas average of 61.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 7% above state mean
Top 68% in Texas - lower ratio than 32% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
34.5%
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
$12,710
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
Counselors2.5 FTE
Per 296 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 62.4%
African American 29.6%
White 4.1%
Two or More 2.8%
Asian 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 62.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.1, Ponderosa El is more mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Spring Isd reports $12,710 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ponderosa El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Andy Dekaney H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westfield H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Carl Wunsche Sr H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rickey C Bailey Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ponderosa El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,485
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,264
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 1,503
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 982
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
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 (~740 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about Ponderosa El
How many students attend Ponderosa El?
Ponderosa El has 740 students enrolled. It is a public school in Houston, TX. CCD year-over-year: 784 (2022-23) → 738 (2023-24), down 46.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa El?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa El is 15.7:1, which is 7% higher than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 0% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ponderosa El?
80.2% of students at Ponderosa El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ponderosa El?
The largest demographic group at Ponderosa El is Hispanic or Latino at 62.4% of enrollment, in Houston, TX. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ponderosa El?
Ponderosa El has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical 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 Ponderosa El rank among schools in Houston?
By Resource Investment Index, Ponderosa El ranks #218 of 435 schools in Houston, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Houston on the city page.
What other schools are in Spring Isd?
Besides Ponderosa El, Spring Isd also operates Spring H S (2,594 students), Andy Dekaney H S (2,485 students), and Westfield H S (2,264 students). See the Spring Isd district page for the complete list.