Enrollment
344
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Spokane Valley, WA
Ponderosa Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Ponderosa Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530111001756
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 80
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ponderosa Elementary earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 93% of Washington schools.
- #8 of 14
- schools in Spokane Valley · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.1:1
- small classes for Washington
- 28.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Ponderosa Elementary has class sizes smaller than 93% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ponderosa Elementary ranks #8 of 14 schools in Spokane Valley, WA.
School address
District: Central Valley School District · Washington
NCES ID 530111001756 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.1:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
-37% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
28.4%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
-37% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Ponderosa Elementary compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Ponderosa Elementary
Ponderosa Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Spokane Valley, Washington, enrolling 344 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.1:1, Ponderosa Elementary is leaner than roughly 93% of Washington schools and 37% under the state's 17.6:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 28.4% of students eligible for free meals.
With 344 students, its enrollment sits close to the Washington median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 90% of the 2,394 Washington schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 355 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #30, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (77%) and Hispanic or Latino (9%) (diversity index 40/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 344 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance holds up well here: only 8.1% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding Central Valley School District spends $15,379 per pupil, 21% below the Washington average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Spokane Valley's public schools, it stands alongside Sunrise Elementary (644 students): Ponderosa Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.1:1 vs 15:1).
Central Valley School District also operates Ridgeline High School (1,575 students) and University High School (1,410 students) alongside Ponderosa Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Ponderosa Elementary compares
Ponderosa Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.1:1 | ▼ 37% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.4% | ▼ 37% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 344 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.1:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
344
Bigger than 39% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
28.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
11.1:1
students per teacher
- 37% below state mean
Top 7% in Washington - lower ratio than 93% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
8.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$15,379
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 344 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 76.5%
Hispanic or Latino 8.7%
Two or More 8.4%
African American 2.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: White at 76.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 39.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 39.9, Ponderosa Elementary is less mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Central Valley School District, which includes Ponderosa Elementary.
$15,379
Per student
-21%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
-7%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 20.0%
State 65.2%
Federal 14.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Ponderosa Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgeline High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| University High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central Valley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Evergreen Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sunrise Elementary | 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
- 1,575
- Students per teacher
- 23.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,410
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 1,380
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 668
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 644
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar other schools in Spokane Valley
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sunrise Elementary
Standard public school
644 students 15:1 students per teacher
Opportunity Elementary
Standard public school
631 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Chester Elementary School
Standard public school
410 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Adams Elementary
Standard public school
376 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Central Valley Early Learning Center
Special-education school
325 students 40.6:1 students per teacher
University Elementary School
Standard public school
291 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Washington, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~344 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Ponderosa Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Ponderosa Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Central Valley School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Ponderosa Elementary
How many students attend Ponderosa Elementary?
Ponderosa Elementary has 344 students enrolled. It is a public school in Spokane Valley, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary is 11.1:1, which is 37% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 29% 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?
28.4% of students at Ponderosa Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ponderosa Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Ponderosa Elementary is White at 76.5% of enrollment, in Spokane Valley, WA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ponderosa Elementary?
Ponderosa Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ponderosa Elementary rank among schools in Spokane Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, Ponderosa Elementary ranks #8 of 14 schools in Spokane Valley, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Spokane Valley on the city page.
Is Ponderosa Elementary a good school?
Ponderosa Elementary earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 93% of Washington schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Central Valley School District?
Besides Ponderosa Elementary, Central Valley School District also operates Ridgeline High School (1,575 students), University High School (1,410 students), and Central Valley High School (1,380 students). See the Central Valley School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.