Very Good
#636 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 24% in state
Ponderosa Elementary
Elementary School · Cumberland County Schools
311 Bonanza Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28303
Enrollment
391
Student-Teacher
13.5:1
Score
7.6
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
391
Student-Teacher
13.5:1
Score
7.6
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
North Carolina schools
#636 of 2,648
In Fayetteville
#9 of 66
public schools
In district
#14 of 84
Cumberland County Schools
Equity
8.9 / 10
Excellent
Shortlisting around Ponderosa Elementary?
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Ponderosa Elementary
Elementary School in Fayetteville · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Sherwood Park Elementary
Fayetteville, NC. Compare side by side with Ponderosa Elementary before ruling this option in or out.
Westover Middle
0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Ponderosa Elementary
Ponderosa Elementary is a public elementary school in Fayetteville, NC, part of Cumberland County Schools. Ponderosa Elementary serves approximately 391 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Ponderosa Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #636 of 2,648 schools in NC.
Structured state assessment records for Ponderosa Elementary show 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
- This school 7.6 · Very Good
- District avg 5.8
- NC avg 6.4
What Parents Should Know
33% of students at Ponderosa Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Ponderosa Elementary — Students at Ponderosa Elementary score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
99.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.5/10.
How Ponderosa Elementary Compares
See how Ponderosa Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
311 Bonanza Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28303
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Ponderosa Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Brentwood Elementary (rated 6.2/10, 3.4 miles away), a more accessible option. Another option is FIRST IMPRESSIONS ACADEMY (rated 6.0/10, 3.9 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, William H Owen Elementary (rated 5.9/10, 3.6 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Fayetteville, see our Fayetteville schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Westover Middle Fayetteville | 0.2 mi | 5.1 |
| BRIGHT YOUNG MINDS UNIVERSITY Fayetteville | 0.3 mi | — |
| Westover High Fayetteville | 0.3 mi | 4.8 |
| Morganton Road Elementary Fayetteville | 0.5 mi | 5.1 |
| Benjamin J Martin Elementary Fayetteville | 1.3 mi | 4.2 |
| Cliffdale Elementary Fayetteville | 2.0 mi | 3.5 |
| RENAISSANCE CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Fayetteville | 2.0 mi | 8.5 |
| BAL-PERAZIM CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Fayetteville | 1.8 mi | 6.3 |
| Alger B. Wilkins High School Fayetteville | 2.0 mi | 4.8 |
| Anne Chesnutt Middle Fayetteville | 2.6 mi | 5.4 |
| Lewis Chapel Middle Fayetteville | 2.7 mi | 4.7 |
| Montclair Elementary Fayetteville | 2.6 mi | 4.9 |
| Brentwood Elementary Fayetteville | 3.4 mi | 6.2 |
| Seventy-First High Fayetteville | 3.5 mi | 4.1 |
| FAYETTEVILLE ACADEMY Fayetteville | 3.1 mi | 8.0 |
| Seventy-First Classical Middle Fayetteville | 3.6 mi | 8.1 |
| Loyd E Auman Elementary Fayetteville | 3.6 mi | 4.9 |
| BIRDS NEST MONTESSORI SCHOOL Fayetteville | 3.7 mi | — |
| William H Owen Elementary Fayetteville | 3.6 mi | 5.9 |
| FIRST IMPRESSIONS ACADEMY Fayetteville | 3.9 mi | 6.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 28303 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$53,261
Median Home Value
$174,900
Median Rent
$1,125/mo
Population
30,220
College Educated
29.6%
Homeownership
45.7%
Avg Commute
17.9 min
Poverty Rate
18.7%
Median Age
34.4
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Catawba Heights Elementary Belmont, NC | 7.6 |
| Fairview Elementary Monroe, NC | 7.6 |
| Grover Elementary Grover, NC | 7.6 |
| J B Page Primary School Belmont, NC | 7.6 |
| Jamestown Elementary Jamestown, NC | 7.6 |
| Kitty Hawk Elementary School Kitty Hawk, NC | 7.6 |
Compare Ponderosa Elementary with similar schools nearby
Side-by-side ratings, test scores, and demographics for the schools parents most often weigh against this one.
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 391 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa Elementary is 13.5:1. 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 NC?
Ponderosa Elementary ranks #636 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Ponderosa Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Ponderosa Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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?
99.2% 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 391
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 99.2%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Cumberland County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 33.2%
- Phone
- (910) 864-0148
Resources & Links
District
Cumberland County Schools- District Enrollment
- 49,314
- Schools in District
- 86
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,118
- District Rank
- #14 of 84
Compare This School
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