Below Average
#6943 of 8,552 schools in TX
Ponderosa EL
Elementary School · Spring ISD · Houston, TX
A Spring ISD elementary school where students score 12 points below what's typical for similar communities.
17202 BUTTE CREEK RD, Houston, TX 77090
- Math 17% vs TX 44% (2024)
- Reading 28% vs TX 54% (2024)
- 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Ponderosa EL score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).
2024 STAAR proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. TX average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 11 points since 2020, to 23% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 30 test records from TX state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
93.4%
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 EL 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 Houston map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 68Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 46Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High5,451/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Houston), 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
$48,196
Median home value
$235,500
Median rent
$1,228/mo
College educated
25.1%
Homeownership
28%
Poverty rate
20.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 77090; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Woods Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 0.4 mi | 2 | Compare → |
| Helen Major ELEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 554 | Compare → |
| Abiding Word Lutheran SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.1private | PK–8 | 0.8 mi | 71 | Compare → |
| Apple Tree SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–1 | 0.8 mi | 10 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Spring ISD
- Schools in district
- 43
- Rank in district
- #18 of 41
- District spending per student
- $12,710NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 26.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Ponderosa EL is listed in SPRING ISD; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Ponderosa EL
Ponderosa EL is a public elementary school in Houston, TX, part of Spring ISD, serving approximately 738 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #6,943 of 8,552 schools in TX. State assessment records show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Ponderosa EL
What grades does Ponderosa EL serve?
Ponderosa EL serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Ponderosa EL?
Ponderosa EL has an enrollment of approximately 738 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa EL?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponderosa EL is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ponderosa EL rank in TX?
Ponderosa EL ranks #6,943 of 8,552 schools in TX.
What is Ponderosa EL's MySchoolScout rating?
Ponderosa EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 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 EL?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Ponderosa EL has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Ponderosa EL a charter school?
No, Ponderosa EL is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ponderosa EL a Title I school?
No, Ponderosa EL is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ponderosa EL?
93.4% of students at Ponderosa EL 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
- 738
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 53
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Harris County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 25.9%
- Phone
- (281) 891-8180
- Area population (ZIP 77090)
- 41,843
- Area average commute
- 29.3 min
- Area median age
- 30.1
Official sources & links
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 · 2024 STAAR · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 STAAR. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 STAAR · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 STAAR. A newer release may be available.
- 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 77090; 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, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
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- Understanding School Ratings: A Parent's Guide to Using Data for School Choice Decisionsguides
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