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Below Average

#6943 of 8,552 schools in TX

Ponderosa EL

Elementary School · SPRING ISD

17202 BUTTE CREEK RD, Houston, TX 77090

Featured in: Best Elementary Schools in Houston

Enrollment

738

Student-Teacher

13.9:1

Score

4.6

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Texas schools

#6,943 of 8,552

In Houston

#553 of 723

public schools

In district

#18 of 41

SPRING ISD

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Ponderosa EL

4.6/10

Elementary School in Houston · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Spring Woods Christian Academy

Nearby

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Helen Major EL

4.5/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Ponderosa EL

Ponderosa EL is a public elementary school in Houston, TX, part of SPRING ISD. Ponderosa EL serves approximately 738 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Ponderosa EL has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #6,943 of 8,552 schools in TX.

Structured state assessment records for Ponderosa EL show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 4.6 · Below Average
  • District avg 4.8
  • TX avg 6.2

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.9Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-4.07 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics2.7Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency17% (2024 STAAR)
Reading/ELA Proficiency28% (2024 STAAR)
Math vs. State Avg-26.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-26.3 pts
Overall Proficiency23% (2024 STAAR, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)35% (model expectation from 2024 STAAR)
vs. Expected-12.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile9th
Resources & Environment6.7Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,710
Chronic Absenteeism25.9%

Ponderosa EL — Students at Ponderosa EL score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

93.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores TX STAAR (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 52.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
43.6% (2024 STAAR)
ELA Proficiency 59.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
54.3% (2024 STAAR)

Based on 30 test records from TX state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
81%
ELA
87%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
89%
2011
Math
75%
ELA
84%
2012
Math
48%
ELA
70%
2013
Math
66%
ELA
78%
2014
Math
64%
ELA
70%
2015
Math
57%
ELA
67%
2016
Math
71%
ELA
68%
2017
Math
41%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
46%
ELA
41%
2019
Math
46%
ELA
41%
2020*
Math
30%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
30%
ELA
37%
2022
Math
34.7%
ELA
50.5%
2024
Math
17%
ELA
28%

* 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: 4.9/10.

How Ponderosa EL Compares

See how Ponderosa EL performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.6/10
19th percentile in TX
Academic
2.7/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
4.9/10
Below Average
Environment
6.7/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
93%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
53 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
25.9%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

17202 BUTTE CREEK RD, Houston, TX 77090

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Ponderosa EL may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. SPELL WELL MONTESSORI SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 1.8 miles away, in nearby Spring), which scores notably higher. Another option is NORTHWOOD MONTESSORI SCHOOL (rated 6.2/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, ABIDING WORD LUTHERAN SCHOOL (rated 6.1/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Houston, see our Houston schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.3 mi
School Distance Rating
SPRING WOODS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Houston 0.4 mi
HELEN MAJOR EL Houston 0.6 mi 4.5
BAMMEL EL Houston 0.8 mi 3.6
APPLE TREE SCHOOL Houston 0.8 mi
ABIDING WORD LUTHERAN SCHOOL Houston 0.8 mi 6.1
WESTFIELD H S Houston 0.9 mi 2.7
ARROW ACADEMY - CHAMPIONS ACADEMY Houston 1.0 mi 3.6
BAMMEL MIDDLE Houston 1.2 mi 2.6
THE SCHOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AT BAMMEL Houston 1.2 mi 3.6
NORTHWOOD MONTESSORI SCHOOL Houston 1.6 mi 6.2
MEYER EL Houston 1.6 mi 4.4
MOMENTUM H S Houston 1.8 mi
PREMIER H S-HOUSTON (CHAMPIONS) Lewisville 1.9 mi 4.8
SPELL WELL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Spring 1.8 mi 7.9
SST CHAMPIONS San Antonio 1.9 mi 6.3
STRACK INT Klein 2.0 mi 6.3
LEMM EL Klein 2.1 mi 6.1
BENFER EL Klein 2.1 mi 6.1
CYPRESSWOOD MONTESSORI SCHOOL Spring 2.3 mi
GREENGATE ACADEMY INC Spring 2.3 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 77090 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$48,196

Median Home Value

$235,500

Median Rent

$1,228/mo

Population

41,843

College Educated

25.1%

Homeownership

28%

Avg Commute

29.3 min

Poverty Rate

20.1%

Median Age

30.1

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
ABBETT EL Garland, TX 4.6
BEAR CREEK EL Houston, TX 4.6
BELL EL Houston, TX 4.6
BEST EL Houston, TX 4.6
BONHAM EL Abilene, TX 4.6
BORMAN EL Denton, TX 4.6

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
68 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
46 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
738
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
53
Free/Reduced Lunch
93.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Harris County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
25.9%

District

SPRING ISD
District Enrollment
33,935
Schools in District
43
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,710
District Rank
#18 of 41

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