- Enrollment
- 1,739
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Norwalk, CT
Ponus Ridge Steam Academy
Federal NCES profile for Ponus Ridge Steam Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 090309000656
👥 S:T ratio 57
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ponus Ridge Steam Academy earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Connecticut median.
- #4 of 4
- middle schools in Norwalk · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.8:1
- students per teacher
- 47.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Ponus Ridge Steam Academy has class sizes near the Connecticut median. Computed live against every Connecticut school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ponus Ridge Steam Academy ranks #4 of 4 middle schools in Norwalk, CT.
School address
District: Norwalk School District · Connecticut
NCES ID 090309000656 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-22 students YoY
Ponus Ridge Steam Academy held near 622 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-22 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 59.0 → 54.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-22 students YoY 090309000656 · Norwalk, CT Middle · MID · TRAD
637 enr · 10.8:1 · 47.7% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Brien Mcmahon High School (1,739 students)
Ponus Ridge Steam Academy held near 622 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-22 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 59.0 → 54.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Connecticut schools → · Find another →
Ponus Ridge Steam Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Brien Mcmahon
Brien Mcmahon High School
1,739 students
- Norwalk High S
Norwalk High School
1,494 students
- West Rocks Mid 657
West Rocks Middle School
657 students
- This school 637
Ponus Ridge Steam Academy
637 students
- Nathan Hale Mi 499
Nathan Hale Middle School
499 students
- Roton Middle S 463
Roton Middle School
463 students
What this shows Ponus Ridge Steam Academy reports 637 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ponus Ridge Steam Academy compares
Ponus Ridge Steam Academy held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Connecticut and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Connecticut | Connecticut avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.8:1 | ▼ 11% | 12.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.7% | ▲ 31% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 637 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.8:1
Leaner classes than 84% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
637
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
47.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% above the Connecticut average of 36.4%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10.8:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 33% in Connecticut - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
34.7%
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
$26,420
per pupil, district-wide
- above Connecticut avg of $24,680
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 212 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
52
in-school suspensions + 49 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 66.4%
African American 15.7%
White 9.7%
Asian 4.7%
Two or More 3.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 66.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.2, Ponus Ridge Steam Academy is about as mixed as the Connecticut school average of 50.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Norwalk School District reports $26,420 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ponus Ridge Steam Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brien Mcmahon High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Norwalk High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Rocks Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Nathan Hale Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Roton Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ponus Ridge Steam Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,494
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 657
- Students per teacher
- 10.6:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 499
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 463
- Students per teacher
- 10.1:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar middle schools in Norwalk
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~637 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ponus Ridge Steam Academy
How many students attend Ponus Ridge Steam Academy?
Ponus Ridge Steam Academy has 637 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Norwalk, CT. CCD year-over-year: 644 (2022-23) → 622 (2023-24), nearly flat (-22).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponus Ridge Steam Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponus Ridge Steam Academy is 10.8:1, which is 11% lower than the Connecticut average of 12.1:1 and 31% 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 Ponus Ridge Steam Academy?
47.7% of students at Ponus Ridge Steam Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Connecticut average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ponus Ridge Steam Academy?
The largest demographic group at Ponus Ridge Steam Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 66.4% of enrollment, in Norwalk, CT. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ponus Ridge Steam Academy?
Ponus Ridge Steam Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (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 Ponus Ridge Steam Academy rank among middle schools in Norwalk?
By Resource Investment Index, Ponus Ridge Steam Academy ranks #4 of 4 middle schools in Norwalk, CT. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Norwalk on the city page.
What other schools are in Norwalk School District?
Besides Ponus Ridge Steam Academy, Norwalk School District also operates Brien Mcmahon High School (1,739 students), Norwalk High School (1,494 students), and West Rocks Middle School (657 students). See the Norwalk School District district page for the complete list.