- Enrollment
- 1,575
- Students per teacher
- 23.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-43 students YoY
Ponderosa Elementary shrank from 415 students in 2022-23 to 372 in 2023-24 (-10.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 31.5 → 25.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-43 students YoY 530111001756 · Spokane Valley, WA Other · SMALL · TRAD
344 enr · 11.1:1 · 28.4% lunch · RII 59
Nearest enrollment peer: Ridgeline High School (1,575 students)
Ponderosa Elementary shrank from 415 students in 2022-23 to 372 in 2023-24 (-10.4%). Teacher FTE lost 31.5 → 25.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Ponderosa Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ridgeline High
Ridgeline High School
1,575 students
- University Hig
University High School
1,410 students
- Central Valley
Central Valley High School
1,380 students
- Evergreen Midd
Evergreen Middle School
668 students
- Sunrise Elemen
Sunrise Elementary
644 students
- This school 344
Ponderosa Elementary
344 students
What this shows Ponderosa Elementary reports 344 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ponderosa Elementary compares
Ponderosa Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$15,783
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
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.
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
District finance for Central Valley School District reports $15,783 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- 1,410
- 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
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 (~344 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.1:1)
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. CCD year-over-year: 415 (2022-23) → 372 (2023-24), down 43.
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, 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 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.
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.