- Enrollment
- 1,663
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Sunnyvale, CA
Ponderosa Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Ponderosa Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063543006049
👥 S:T ratio 5
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ponderosa Elementary earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #13 of 13
- elementary schools in Sunnyvale · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.8:1
- large classes for California
- 26.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Ponderosa Elementary has class sizes larger than 70% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ponderosa Elementary ranks #13 of 13 elementary schools in Sunnyvale, CA.
School address
District: Santa Clara Unified · California
NCES ID 063543006049 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+12 students YoY
Ponderosa Elementary held near 513 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 22.7 → 24.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+12 students YoY 063543006049 · Sunnyvale, CA Elementary · MID · TRAD
524 enr · 23.8:1 · 26.9% lunch · RII 22
Nearest enrollment peer: Santa Clara High (1,663 students)
Ponderosa Elementary held near 513 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount). Teacher FTE added 22.7 → 24.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Ponderosa Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Santa Clara Hi
Santa Clara High
1,663 students
- Adrian Wilcox
Adrian Wilcox High
1,614 students
- Juan Cabrillo
Juan Cabrillo Middle
796 students
- Marian a. Pete
Marian a. Peterson Middle
759 students
- Buchser Middle
Buchser Middle
711 students
- This school 524
Ponderosa Elementary
524 students
What this shows Ponderosa Elementary reports 524 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ponderosa Elementary compares
Ponderosa Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 23.8:1 | ▲ 11% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.9% | ▼ 52% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 524 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.8:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
524
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
23.8:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 70% in California - lower ratio than 30% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
18.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$27,214
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 524 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 38.7%
Hispanic or Latino 35.9%
White 16.8%
Two or More 6.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.3%
African American 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Asian at 38.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.9, Ponderosa Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Santa Clara Unified reports $27,214 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ponderosa Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Adrian Wilcox High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Juan Cabrillo Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Marian a. Peterson Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Buchser Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ponderosa Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,614
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 796
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 759
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 711
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar elementary schools in Sunnyvale
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Louis E. Stocklmeir Elementary
Standard public school
840 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Ellis Elementary
Standard public school
768 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Cherry Chase Elementary
Standard public school
622 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Cumberland Elementary
Standard public school
586 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
Bishop Elementary
Standard public school
465 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Vargas Elementary
Standard public school
435 students 20.7:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~524 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ponderosa Elementary
How many students attend Ponderosa Elementary?
Ponderosa Elementary has 524 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Sunnyvale, CA. CCD year-over-year: 501 (2022-23) → 513 (2023-24), nearly flat (+12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary is 23.8:1, which is 11% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 52% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ponderosa Elementary?
26.9% of students at Ponderosa Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ponderosa Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Ponderosa Elementary is Asian at 38.7% of enrollment, in Sunnyvale, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ponderosa Elementary?
Ponderosa Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower 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 Elementary rank among elementary schools in Sunnyvale?
By Resource Investment Index, Ponderosa Elementary ranks #13 of 13 elementary schools in Sunnyvale, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Sunnyvale on the city page.
What other schools are in Santa Clara Unified?
Besides Ponderosa Elementary, Santa Clara Unified also operates Santa Clara High (1,663 students), Adrian Wilcox High (1,614 students), and Juan Cabrillo Middle (796 students). See the Santa Clara Unified district page for the complete list.