Ponderosa High School
Shingle Springs, CA 95682
Phone: (530) 677-2281
Fax: (530) 677-2299
District: El Dorado Union High School District
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades 9,10,11,12 • 1675 students
Ponderosa High School, a public school located in Shingle Springs, CA, serves grades 9-12 in the El Dorado Union High School District.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.
Ponderosa High School is a public school located in Shingle Springs, CA. 1675 students attend Ponderosa High School.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 9/10 | The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 California Science Test data from California Department of Education. |
| College Readiness | 8/10 | The College Readiness Rating uses this high school's graduation rates, college entrance exam participation and performance, or AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment participation to determine how well schools are preparing students for success in college and beyond. The College Readiness Rating was created using 2019 SAT percent college ready data from California Department of Education, using 2019 Average ACT score data from California Department of Education, using 2019 ACT percent college ready data from California Department of Education, using the following data from the 2021 Civil Rights Data Collection: percentage of students enrolled in IB, AP or Dual Enrollment classes in grades 9-12, using 2025 4-year high school graduation rate data from California Department of Education, using 2025 Percent of students who meet UC/CSU entrance requirements data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 demographic data from California Department of Education. |
Posted: August 15, 2025
Our youngest son is in his 3rd year and IIs having a good experience.
Posted: August 15, 2025
Posted: August 15, 2025
Posted: August 15, 2025
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Posted: August 15, 2025
Posted: August 15, 2025
Posted: November 9, 2023
I don't speak English and they have no treslation for Russian
Posted: November 9, 2023
Posted: November 9, 2023
Posted: November 9, 2023
Posted: November 9, 2023
Posted: November 9, 2023
Posted: November 9, 2023
Posted: November 9, 2023
Posted: November 1, 2022
There is rampant racism at this school which is not discouraged by school leadership. If your child is not white, don't bother enrolling here! The absolute worst school I've ever experienced.
The school's treatment of disabled students is horrible! Stay away!
Posted: November 1, 2022
Posted: November 1, 2022
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Posted: November 1, 2022
Posted: November 1, 2022
Posted: May 19, 2019
There have been many cases of bullying within the school, yet serious actions are rarely taken. Teachers tend to ignore obvious signs of bullying between students by blowing it off. In addition, this school lacks a sufficient counselor. Unlike neighboring schools, many students who are going through difficult periods in their life have nobody to go to at Ponderosa High School for help. When I wanted to talk about my step family to the counselor, she responded by stating that she couldnt help me because she, didnt specialize in blended families. This being a popular problem amongst teenagers, already leaves a chunk of children without anyone to go to for advice within the school.
Posted: May 19, 2019
I have attended three different schools during my high school life, and Ponderosa High School by far has been the worst one. With the most inconsiderate principals and counselors, I find this school to be a very negative environment with a lack of compassion for the students that go there.
Posted: May 19, 2019
Posted: May 19, 2019
There are multiple teachers at this school that are known for harassing and overall denigrating their students. Despite continuous complaints, the most powerful people in the school refuse to do anything about it.
Posted: May 19, 2019
Unless a student has impeccable grades & attendance, and never questions the schools actions, they will be treated as if there is something wrong with them. In addition, the school promotes sexism within the students and staff by dress coding girls who make the conscious decision to not wear a bra, despite there being no rule in the handbook about the topic. This school cannot help develop strong character within its students, when the staff members themselves do not have it.
Posted: May 19, 2019
Rather than having leadership at this school that seeks out change to continuously benefit the students, the majority of the decisions they make are based upon sticking to old routines, and making money for the school. Even if things are made more inconvenient and/or uncomfortable for students, the leadership at the school holds the childrens feelings as their last point of consideration.
Posted: May 19, 2019
Posted: November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
The teachers care about the students. Nice campus.
Posted: November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Posted: June 10, 2017
Various clubs and sports teams provide the platform for students to gain leadership skills.
Posted: June 10, 2017
Students with special needs are treated with respect. They have equal opportunities in participating activities such as sports.
Posted: June 10, 2017
I have never encountered any bullying. The school is very serious about it.
Posted: June 10, 2017
This school made me feel I can achieve anything. I was a special needs student in middle school. Starting high school, I transitioned to the regular classroom, took challenging courses and became a straight A student. I also participated in sports and volunteer activities recommended by my teacher and counselor. They go above and beyond to help the students to succeed. Ponderosa is the best!
Posted: June 10, 2017
Homework assignments are posted on most teachers' websites. If not, very clearly given. Really helps enhance the knowledge learned. Challenging and yet manageable.
Posted: June 10, 2017
The teachers care about the students. They know how to teach and make the subjects fun to learn.
Posted: June 10, 2017
All my classmates are respectful. I haven't met one person who is mean.
Posted: October 7, 2016
Generally a nice school. Older campus that has been well maintained. Many great staff members.
Posted: January 22, 2014
Im a student at Ponderosa high school.. this school is Great! Teachers are very supportive. We have a huge fan base for sports and its a great campus. And its a great school all around!
Posted: January 8, 2013
I went to another school for my first three years of high school and honestly I regret the move... The staff is good and the education is alright to me, but the extra curricular activities suck quite miserably, and to me those moments are what makes kids remember the good ol' days of high school . My old school has powder puff and the spirit days are ten billion times better and students get way more into it. There are two separate rallies which, for me, makes no sense since my old school had about 1,000 more kids and had only one, by the way the rallys are also much more entertaining and people don't regret going to them. The school spirit sucks and there isn't enough parking. I believe that Ponderosa needs to think about adding a little more entertainment. Powder puff was probably one of the most fun things I have ever done and it's not offered. I was told by a fellow student of mine who has gone there all four years and is in leadership that someone has talked to the activities director and they didn't do anything. I paid for my own jersey and got to keep it and they charged at the gate so they have no need to worry about finances. I just want my senior year to be fun.
Posted: May 24, 2012
Ponderosa High School is a great school. We lost the best principal, Mr Moore last year, but the school is still good. The new principal is never seen. The teachers care about the students and help them to progress. Great sports programs too,
Posted: March 26, 2012
ponderosa is a pretty good school :) i wish they would offer more activities such as lacross or dancing... but the teachers are AMAZING! they really make you WANT to come to school :)
Posted: February 3, 2012
Ponderosa High School laid the foundation for my children to succeed when they attended Ponderosa and now that they are in college.
Posted: February 1, 2012
Two children through and on to university, one attending now. Great school for students who are high achievers.
Posted: December 6, 2011
The administration is terrible! They do absolutely nothing to help the students, nor parents! I use to love Ponderosa until I started having bullying/harassment issues at school... and Still ( A year and 2 months later) I am still having those same issues. The school does nothing! Its pathetic! However, the teachers at Ponderosa are the best! They are so nice and thier ways of teaching are amazing. They truely care about the students.
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| Coast Guard Sacramento | 24.5 mi. |
| Beale AFB | 39.3 mi. |
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