Needs Improvement
#1714 of 1,815 schools in CO
Ponderosa Elementary School
Elementary School · Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the County of Arapah · Aurora, CO
A Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the County of Arapah elementary school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1885 SOUTH LIMA STREET, Aurora, CO 80012
- Math 18% vs CO 40% (2025)
- Reading 19% vs CO 45% (2025)
- 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Ponderosa Elementary School score 18% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 24%).
2025 CMAS proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CO average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 71 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 19% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 39% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 35 test records from CO state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
76%
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 School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Denver map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 61Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 40Some Transit
- Bike 65Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,074/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Aurora), 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
$69,835
Median home value
$398,300
Median rent
$1,697/mo
College educated
27.3%
Homeownership
50.9%
Poverty rate
14.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 80012; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Village East Community Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.3 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 719 | Compare → |
| Eastridge Community Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | PK–5 | 0.8 mi | 651 | Compare → |
| Challenge SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.0 | PK–8 | 1.4 mi | 563 | Compare → |
| Crescent View AcademyPrivate · tuition | 8.1private | PK–12 | 1.4 mi | 423 | 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.
Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the County of Arapah
- Schools in district
- 70
- Rank in district
- #68 of 70
- District spending per student
- $15,158NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 7.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Ponderosa Elementary School is listed in Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Ponderosa Elementary School
Ponderosa Elementary School is a public elementary school in Aurora, CO, part of Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the County of Arapah, serving approximately 572 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,714 of 1,815 schools in CO. State assessment records show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Ponderosa Elementary School
What grades does Ponderosa Elementary School serve?
Ponderosa Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Ponderosa Elementary School?
Ponderosa Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 572 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary School is 15.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ponderosa Elementary School rank in CO?
Ponderosa Elementary School ranks #1,714 of 1,815 schools in CO.
What is Ponderosa Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Ponderosa Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 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 School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Ponderosa Elementary School has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 39% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Ponderosa Elementary School a charter school?
No, Ponderosa Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ponderosa Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Ponderosa Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ponderosa Elementary School?
76.0% of students at Ponderosa Elementary School 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
- 572
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 36
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Arapahoe County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 43.5%
- Phone
- (720) 747-2800
- Area population (ZIP 80012)
- 51,389
- Area average commute
- 29.3 min
- Area median age
- 33.2
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 80012; 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, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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