- Enrollment
- 1,940
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Fayetteville, NC
Ponderosa Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Ponderosa Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370001100427
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 6
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ponderosa Elementary earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #11 of 27
- schools in Fayetteville · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- students per teacher
- 99.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Ponderosa Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ponderosa Elementary ranks #11 of 27 schools in Fayetteville, NC.
School address
District: Cumberland County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370001100427 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+25 students YoY
Ponderosa Elementary grew from 366 students in 2022-23 to 391 in 2023-24 (+6.8%).
Teacher FTE added 27.0 → 29.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+25 students YoY 370001100427 · Fayetteville, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
417 enr · 15.4:1 · 99.2% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Jack Britt High (1,940 students)
Ponderosa Elementary grew from 366 students in 2022-23 to 391 in 2023-24 (+6.8%). Teacher FTE added 27.0 → 29.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Ponderosa Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Jack Britt Hig
Jack Britt High
1,940 students
- Pine Forest Hi
Pine Forest High
1,551 students
- Cape Fear High
Cape Fear High
1,515 students
- South View Hig
South View High
1,461 students
- Gray's Creek H
Gray's Creek High
1,458 students
- This school 417
Ponderosa Elementary
417 students
What this shows Ponderosa Elementary reports 417 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ponderosa Elementary compares
Ponderosa Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▼ 3% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.2% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 417 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
417
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 55% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
37.6%
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
$12,118
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 278 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 57.3%
Hispanic or Latino 21.8%
Two or More 9.8%
White 7.2%
Asian 2.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 57.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.9, Ponderosa Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cumberland County Schools reports $12,118 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Britt High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pine Forest High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cape Fear High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South View High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gray's Creek High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher 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
- 1,551
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,515
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,461
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,458
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar other schools in Fayetteville
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Alpha Academy
Standard public school
960 students 22.3:1 students per teacher
The Capitol Encore Academy
Standard public school
853 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Bill Hefner Elementary
Standard public school
712 students 17:1 students per teacher
New Century International Elementary
Standard public school
686 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
E E Miller Elementary
Standard public school
656 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Lake Rim Elementary
Standard public school
656 students 16:1 students per teacher
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 (~417 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ponderosa Elementary
How many students attend Ponderosa Elementary?
Ponderosa Elementary has 417 students enrolled. It is a public school in Fayetteville, NC. CCD year-over-year: 366 (2022-23) → 391 (2023-24), up 25.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary is 15.4:1, which is 3% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 2% lower 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?
99.2% of students at Ponderosa Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ponderosa Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Ponderosa Elementary is African American at 57.3% of enrollment, in Fayetteville, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ponderosa Elementary?
Ponderosa Elementary 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 Elementary rank among schools in Fayetteville?
By Resource Investment Index, Ponderosa Elementary ranks #11 of 27 schools in Fayetteville, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Fayetteville on the city page.
What other schools are in Cumberland County Schools?
Besides Ponderosa Elementary, Cumberland County Schools also operates Jack Britt High (1,940 students), Pine Forest High (1,551 students), and Cape Fear High (1,515 students). See the Cumberland County Schools district page for the complete list.