- Enrollment
- 741
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Billings, MT
Ponderosa School
Federal NCES profile for Ponderosa School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 300387000079
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ponderosa School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Montana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Montana schools.
- #7 of 30
- schools in Billings · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 277
- students enrolled
Ponderosa School has class sizes near the Montana median. Computed live against every Montana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ponderosa School ranks #7 of 30 schools in Billings, MT.
School address
District: Billings Elem · Montana
NCES ID 300387000079 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+23 students YoY
Ponderosa School grew from 274 students in 2022-23 to 297 in 2023-24 (+8.4%).
Teacher FTE held 20.7 → 20.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+23 students YoY 300387000079 · Billings, MT Other · SMALL · TRAD
277 enr · 13.8:1 · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Lewis & Clark Middle School (741 students)
Ponderosa School grew from 274 students in 2022-23 to 297 in 2023-24 (+8.4%). Teacher FTE held 20.7 → 20.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Montana schools → · Find another →
Ponderosa School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lewis & Clark
Lewis & Clark Middle School
741 students
- Ben Steele Mid
Ben Steele Middle School
740 students
- Meadowlark Sch
Meadowlark School
691 students
- Castle Rock Mi
Castle Rock Middle School
691 students
- Will James Mid
Will James Middle School
634 students
- This school 277
Ponderosa School
277 students
What this shows Ponderosa School reports 277 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ponderosa School compares
Ponderosa School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Montana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Montana | Montana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.8:1 | ▲ 17% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 277 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
277
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 65% in Montana - lower ratio than 35% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
61.0%
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
$12,015
per pupil, district-wide
- below Montana avg of $19,859
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 277 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 52.3%
Hispanic or Latino 18.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 18.8%
Two or More 6.5%
African American 3.2%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 52.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.1, Ponderosa School is more mixed than the Montana school average of 23.6.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Billings Elem reports $12,015 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ponderosa School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis & Clark Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ben Steele Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Meadowlark School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Castle Rock Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Will James Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ponderosa School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 740
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 691
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 691
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar other schools in Billings
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Meadowlark School
Standard public school
691 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
Boulder School
Standard public school
495 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Elder Grove School
Standard public school
465 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Eagle Cliffs Elementary
Standard public school
443 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Arrowhead School
Standard public school
434 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Broadwater School
Standard public school
400 students 16.7:1 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 (~277 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Ponderosa School
How many students attend Ponderosa School?
Ponderosa School has 277 students enrolled. It is a public school in Billings, MT. CCD year-over-year: 274 (2022-23) → 297 (2023-24), up 23.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa School is 13.8:1, which is 17% higher than the Montana average of 11.8:1 and 12% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ponderosa School?
The largest demographic group at Ponderosa School is White at 52.3% of enrollment, in Billings, MT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ponderosa School?
Ponderosa School 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 School rank among schools in Billings?
By Resource Investment Index, Ponderosa School ranks #7 of 30 schools in Billings, MT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Billings on the city page.
What other schools are in Billings Elem?
Besides Ponderosa School, Billings Elem also operates Lewis & Clark Middle School (741 students), Ben Steele Middle School (740 students), and Meadowlark School (691 students). See the Billings Elem district page for the complete list.