Very Good
#349 of 1,815 schools in CO
Top 19% in state
Ponderosa Elementary
Elementary School · Thompson School District R-2j · Loveland, CO
A Thompson School District R-2j elementary school where students score 8 points above what's typical for similar communities.
4550 FLORENCE DRIVE, Loveland, CO 80538
- Math 47% vs CO 40% (2025)
- Reading 60% vs CO 45% (2025)
- 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Ponderosa Elementary score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2010–2025), then recovered 14 points since 2020, reaching 54% in 2025.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 51% (multi-year average, 2010-2025) · reading/ELA 62% (multi-year average, 2010-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 33 test records from CO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
33.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Ponderosa Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 8Car-Dependent
- Bike 29Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,348/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Loveland), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$85,057
Median home value
$472,200
Median rent
$1,730/mo
College educated
42.5%
Homeownership
69%
Poverty rate
8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 80538; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | PK–5 | 1.4 mi | 331 | Compare → |
| Lincoln Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | PK–5 | 2.1 mi | 217 | Compare → |
| Laurene Edmondson Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.9 | PK–5 | 2.3 mi | 241 | Compare → |
| Immanuel Lutheran SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.4private | PK–8 | 2.6 mi | 149 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Thompson School District R-2j
- Schools in district
- 32
- Rank in district
- #3 of 31
- District spending per student
- $14,678NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 7.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Ponderosa Elementary is listed in Thompson School District R-2J; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Ponderosa Elementary
Ponderosa Elementary is a public elementary school in Loveland, CO, part of Thompson School District R-2j, serving approximately 353 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranks #349 of 1,815 schools in CO. State assessment records show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Ponderosa Elementary
What grades does Ponderosa Elementary serve?
Ponderosa Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Ponderosa Elementary?
Ponderosa Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 353 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary is 16.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ponderosa Elementary rank in CO?
Ponderosa Elementary ranks #349 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Ponderosa Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Ponderosa Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Ponderosa Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Ponderosa Elementary has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025).
Is Ponderosa Elementary a charter school?
No, Ponderosa Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ponderosa Elementary a Title I school?
No, Ponderosa Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ponderosa Elementary?
33.7% of students at Ponderosa Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 353
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Larimer County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 16.7%
- Phone
- (970) 679-9500
- Area population (ZIP 80538)
- 49,183
- Area average commute
- 26.7 min
- Area median age
- 43.3
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 CMAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 CMAS · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 80538; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2010-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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