- Enrollment
- 1,239
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · South San Francisco, CA
Ponderosa Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Ponderosa Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 063753006349
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 27
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ponderosa Elementary earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #3 of 6
- elementary schools in South San Francisco · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.9:1
- students per teacher
- 27.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Ponderosa Elementary has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ponderosa Elementary ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in South San Francisco, CA.
School address
District: South San Francisco Unified · California
NCES ID 063753006349 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+19 students YoY
Ponderosa Elementary grew from 351 students in 2022-23 to 370 in 2023-24 (+5.4%).
Teacher FTE held 18.0 → 18.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+19 students YoY 063753006349 · South San Francisco, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
359 enr · 19.9:1 · 27.4% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: South San Francisco High (1,239 students)
Ponderosa Elementary grew from 351 students in 2022-23 to 370 in 2023-24 (+5.4%). Teacher FTE held 18.0 → 18.0 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
- South San Fran
South San Francisco High
1,239 students
- El Camino High
El Camino High
1,053 students
- Alta Loma Midd
Alta Loma Middle
652 students
- Buri Buri Elem
Buri Buri Elementary
584 students
- Parkway Height
Parkway Heights Middle
573 students
- This school 359
Ponderosa Elementary
359 students
What this shows Ponderosa Elementary reports 359 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ponderosa Elementary compares
Ponderosa Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.9:1 | ▼ 7% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.4% | ▼ 51% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 359 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.9:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
359
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
27.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% 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
19.9:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 34% in California - lower ratio than 66% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
29.2%
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
$18,792
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 46.5%
Asian 28.4%
White 13.9%
Two or More 9.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
African American 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 46.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.4, Ponderosa Elementary is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for South San Francisco Unified reports $18,792 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South San Francisco High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| El Camino High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Alta Loma Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Buri Buri Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Parkway Heights 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
- 1,053
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 652
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 584
- Students per teacher
- 23.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 573
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar elementary schools in South San Francisco
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Buri Buri Elementary
Standard public school
584 students 23.4:1 students per teacher
Spruce Elementary
Standard public school
384 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Martin Elementary
Standard public school
370 students 20.6:1 students per teacher
Sunshine Gardens Elementary
Standard public school
329 students 20.6:1 students per teacher
Los Cerritos Elementary
Standard public school
304 students 20.3:1 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 (~359 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ponderosa Elementary
How many students attend Ponderosa Elementary?
Ponderosa Elementary has 359 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in South San Francisco, CA. CCD year-over-year: 351 (2022-23) → 370 (2023-24), up 19.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary is 19.9:1, which is 7% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ponderosa Elementary?
27.4% 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 Hispanic or Latino at 46.5% of enrollment, in South San Francisco, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ponderosa Elementary?
Ponderosa Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower 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 Ponderosa Elementary rank among elementary schools in South San Francisco?
By Resource Investment Index, Ponderosa Elementary ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in South San Francisco, 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 South San Francisco on the city page.
What other schools are in South San Francisco Unified?
Besides Ponderosa Elementary, South San Francisco Unified also operates South San Francisco High (1,239 students), El Camino High (1,053 students), and Alta Loma Middle (652 students). See the South San Francisco Unified district page for the complete list.