Ponderosa Elementary School

I made the huge mistake of sending my son to this school for one year after moving nearby. Instead of being assessed at the beginning of the school year, he was changed classes three different times. He was not challenged & just felt unbalanced & like he was starting all over each time. He did make excellent grades.. but he was also doing work that he did two years prior at the previous school attended. He was assigned homework only 3 times the whole year!!! He is now back at his old school & for the first time ever is struggling to keep up. It's like he missed a whole year of school!!
--Submitted by a parent

The CHAMPS teachers, (music, art, phys. ed, library) are the absolute best.
--Submitted by a parent

Some of the staff need to retire, quit, or get a new attitude BECAUSE they have been there too long. It seems all the staff YELL at the kids? You won't get respect unless you give it. The yelling makes it feels like military school w/o the learning perks. You wouldn't know the principal from a fly on the wall. Hopeful the new zoning will help the school, as far as I know the staff remain the same.
--Submitted by a parent

This excellent local school has achieved exemplary status with the state again this past year. Involved, active PTO group. Newly renovated campus. Low staff turnover, consistency in teaching from one year to the next. Good ESL PK-grade 5, excellent administrative staff.
--Submitted by a parent

Excellent school with excellent staff. Great staff retention which helps with educational continuity. Diverse mix racially and economically. We stay in our apartment complex just so our son can complete his elementary education at *this* school. Good ESL and special needs programs. They have attempted to start extracurricular activities this year with the introduction of 'clubs' which meet before or after school once a week. There is Chess, Dancing, Art, and a few more. Not much but it is a leap for them and school sponsored. The school is small but SISD bonds have allowed for expansion and handicap access to the upper floor now. My first concern is that now that they have achieved the level of academic excellence they now enjoy, to maintain it they will have to diminish the amount of 'fun' the students get to have. Very active PTO which means *lots* of fundraisers unfortunately.
--Submitted by a parent

PF Elementary is a jewel nestled within a terrific neigborhood. The residents of the Ponderosa Forest subdivison take an active role in the school' via a thriving PTA. If you want your child to receive a greate education, to experience positive cultural diversity, and the feel of a neighborhood school, then PF Elementray is for you! But remember, the experience is only what you, tha parent, puts in to it at home and at the school. Get involved!
--Submitted by a parent

This is a very good elementary school. Ponderosa has a nice blend of students from the upscale Ponderosa subdivision and the neighboring apartment complexes in the 1960 area. It's very ethnically diverse. The administration runs a tight ship. They have virtually no discipline problems. The administration and teachers are very focused on academic excellence, which they achieve. The quality of the teachers is very good: what you'd expect in a good suburban school. There is an extremely involved parent community. There is a good program for advanced classes.
--Submitted by Matt, a parent