Ponderosa High School, commonly referred to as Pondo or PHS, is a public high school in Parker, Colorado. It is part of the Douglas County School District RE-1.
Serving 1,424 students in grades 9-12, Ponderosa High School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in Colorado for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 40% (which is higher than the Colorado state average of 33%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 77% (which is higher than the Colorado state average of 45%).
The student:teacher ratio of 18:1 is higher than the Colorado state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Colorado state average of 50% (majority Hispanic).
Quick Stats (2025)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,424 students
- Student:Teacher Ratio: 18:1
- Minority Enrollment: 23%
- Graduation Rate: 93% (Top 20% in CO)
- Overall Testing Rank: Top 20%
- Math Proficiency: 40% (Top 50%)
- Reading Proficiency: 77% (Top 5%)
- Science Proficiency: 32% (Top 50%)
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CO Dept. of Education
Top Rankings
Ponderosa High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Colorado for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Graduation Rate
School Overview
Ponderosa High School's student population of 1,424 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
The teacher population of 77 teachers has grown by 13% over five school years.
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
(No virtual instruction)
(No virtual instruction)
Total Students
1,424 students
Gender %
Total Classroom Teachers
77 teachers
Year Founded
1983
First Day of School
Fri. Aug 15, 2025
Last Day of School
Sat. May 30, 2026
School Motto
Ponderosa High School Proud, Productive, Proven!!
School Mascot
Mustangs
School Rankings
Ponderosa High School ranks within the top 20% of all 1,748 schools in Colorado (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Ponderosa High School is 0.39, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.62. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall Testing Rank
#311 out of 1748 schools
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
33%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
77%
45%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
(20-21)32%
29%
Student : Teacher Ratio
18:1
15:1
American Indian
n/a
1%
Asian
2%
3%
Hispanic
15%
36%
Black
2%
5%
White
77%
50%
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
4%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
Graduation Rate
93%
82%
Eligible for Free Lunch
11%
39%
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
2%
6%
School Statewide Testing
School District Name
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CO Dept. of Education
School Notes
- School Mascot: Mustangs
Profile last updated: 02/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ponderosa High School's ranking?
Ponderosa High School is ranked #311 out of 1,748 schools, which ranks it among the top 20% of public schools in Colorado.
What schools are Ponderosa High School often compared to?
Ponderosa High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Legend High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
40% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 33% CO state average), while 77% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 45% CO state average).
What is the graduation rate of Ponderosa High School?
The graduation rate of Ponderosa High School is 93%, which is higher than the Colorado state average of 82%.
How many students attend Ponderosa High School?
1,424 students attend Ponderosa High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
77% of Ponderosa High School students are White, 15% of students are Hispanic, 4% of students are Two or more races, 2% of students are Asian, and 2% of students are Black.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Ponderosa High School?
Ponderosa High School has a student ration of 18:1, which is higher than the Colorado state average of 15:1.
What grades does Ponderosa High School offer ?
Ponderosa High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12 (No virtual instruction).
What school district is Ponderosa High School part of?
Ponderosa High School is part of Douglas County School District No. Re 1.
School Reviews
5 2/25/2017
Great school and sense of school pride. Wonderful athletics program. Proud to be an alumni.
Review Ponderosa High School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:
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