Compare Ponderosa Elementary School with Heritage Elementary School

Ponderosa Elementary School earned a State accountability rating of B (80-89) based on three domains: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps. Scores are scaled from 0 to 100 to align with letter grades. The school scored 71 in student achievement, 93 in school progress and 77 in closing performance gaps. It scored 88 overall in post-secondary readiness, a broad term that refers to student preparedness to undertake multiple pathways after graduation, or specifically, their preparedness for college education.

On the other hand, Heritage Elementary School also earned a State accountability rating of B. The school posted 65 in student achievement, 88 in school progress, 75 in closing performance gaps and 84 overall in post-secondary readiness.

A distinction designation acknowledges districts and campuses for outstanding achievement based on the outcomes of several performance indicators. Distinction designations are awarded for achievement in several areas and are based on performance relative to a group of campuses of similar type, size, grade span, and student demographics.

It is in this area where the two schools differ. Ponderosa Elementary School's four out of seven distinctions are in Reading/English Language Arts (ELA), post-secondary, with 25% student progress and 25% closing performance gaps. Heritage Elementary School’s two out of seven distinctions are in Science and with 25% student progress.

Based on Racial/Ethnic Groups, Hispanics comprise the biggest group at Ponderosa Elementary School. They make up for 56.98% of student population, followed by African Americans (34.24%), Whites or Caucasians (3.49%), Native Americans (2.45%), Two or More Races (1.68%) and Asians (1.03%).

At Heritage Elementary School, Hispanics are the biggest group, comprising 58.47% of student population, followed by African Americans (32.59%), Asians (3.04%), Two or More Races (2.88%), Whites or Caucasians (2.24%) and Native Americans (0.80%).

Based on household incomes, the Ponderosa Elementary School’s economically disadvantaged students is slightly lower at 89.53% compared to 95.05% at Heritage Elementary School.

In terms of Limited English Proficiency (LEP), a term used in the United States that refers to a person who is not fluent in the English Language, mainly because it is not their native language, Ponderosa Elementary School has a slightly higher number of English Language Learners comprising 40.83% of its student population compared to 47.60% at Heritage Elementary School.

In addition, Ponderosa Elementary School has 40.31% bilingual students, 2.58% are in the gifted and talented program, while 10.21% are in the special education program. This stacks up against Heritage Elementary School with 47.60% bilingual students, 3.67% gifted and talented students and 9.11% students in the special education program.

53 teachers employed at Ponderosa Elementary School have been teaching in the school for an average of about 3.8 years with individual teaching experience averaging 7.1 years. The 43 teachers at Heritage Elementary School have been serving the school for an average of 4.9 years with individual teaching experience averaging 8.2 years.

Of its teaching staff, Ponderosa Elementary School no teacher serving the school for over 30 years, has two teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, 14 teachers have worked for 11-20 years, nine teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 16 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including 13 beginning teachers. Heritage Elementary School no teacher serving the school for over 30 years, has six teachers serving the school for 20-30 years, eight teachers have worked for 11-20 years, seven teachers have worked for 6-10 years, while 15 teachers have been serving the school for over 1-5 years, including eight beginning teachers.

In both schools, female teachers outnumber the male teachers. At Ponderosa Elementary School there are 47 female teachers and six male teachers. Of its teaching staff, five special education teachers are being assisted by 14 teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has two staff members in the school administration department and six more working as school support staff.

At Heritage Elementary School there are 40 female teachers and three male teachers. Of its teaching staff, three special education teachers are being assisted by 12 teachers aides or paraprofessionals. In addition to its teaching staff, the school has three staff members in the school administration department and six more working as school support staff.