Ponderosa Elementary School
Loveland, CO 80538
Phone: (970) 679-9500
District: Thompson R2-J School District
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades K-5 • 335 students
Loveland's Ponderosa Elementary School serves grades K-5 in the Thompson R2-J School District. It is among the few public elementary schools in Colorado to receive a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10.
Ponderosa Elementary School is a public school located in Loveland, CO. 335 students attend Ponderosa Elementary School.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 7/10 | 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 Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) data from Colorado Department of Education. |
Posted: May 23, 2022
Posted: May 23, 2022
Posted: May 23, 2022
Posted: May 23, 2022
Posted: May 23, 2022
Posted: May 23, 2022
Posted: May 23, 2022
Posted: May 23, 2022
Our son started at Ponderosa Elementary at the age of 3 in the Early Childhood program. He was very behind needing speech therapy and occupational therapy. The school and especially the staff are the reason that he has now graduated from most of his therapies and is a thriving young man. I will always recommend this school. I cant imagine him going anywhere else and receiving the support that we have.
Posted: December 20, 2018
My son would not be thriving in school the way that he is had we not had the support of Ponderosas wonderful faculty.
Posted: December 20, 2018
Posted: December 20, 2018
Posted: December 20, 2018
I have a son on an IEP and have found the school to be exceptionally accomodating.
Posted: December 20, 2018
Posted: December 20, 2018
Kindergarten isnt very demonstrative of homework policies.
Posted: December 20, 2018
I wouldnt take my son anywhere else! The school is wonderful!!!
Posted: December 17, 2018
Posted: December 17, 2018
The leadership at this school is highly ineffective. Many teachers were pushed out by the leadership and were not well supported. The Principal often did things that were legally questionable, like unequal discipline and not providing enough discipline to the students who needed it.
Posted: December 17, 2018
The special ed teacher does the bare minimum, is not supported by the Principal and the program as a whole is understaffed.
Posted: December 17, 2018
Posted: December 17, 2018
I moved my child to another school because I was appalled by how the school leadership and even the district leadership handled certain situations. The district is severely underfunded and my child's education was too important to just sit around waiting and hoping things would improve. I moved so my child could go to a better school.
Posted: December 17, 2018
My first grader was given 10+ pages of math homework to complete weekly, plus nightly reading, spelling and other homework. The amount was not developmentally apporiate nor did the teachers even check the work.
Posted: December 17, 2018
My first grader was often grouped with ALL THREE first grade classes for direct instruction, while the other two teachers sat in their classrooms not working with students. These teachers often did not give the recesses the children were supposed to have.
Posted: March 2, 2018
Posted: March 2, 2018
Posted: March 2, 2018
Posted: March 2, 2018
Posted: March 2, 2018
Posted: March 2, 2018
Posted: March 2, 2018
Leadership is ineffective and domineering which has staff and student morale much lower than it once was. When teachers aren't happy, neither are students or parents but there is no voice for them.
Posted: October 22, 2015
Just had the most unpleasant experience during my child's parent teacher conference. Upon entering the class room to meet with his teacher we also found the P.E. teacher and Music instructor waiting as well. Immediately after introductions were made the P.E. and music instructors began a combined attack of my child's character. Telling him that beside being disrespectful towards them that he is singled out and removed from the class setting because he was unwanted by the other students in his class. The Physical Education teacher became so upset during this time that she was noticeably, physically shaking. After this display of educational excellence ended and they left the room my child was consoled by his teacher who told him he was a great kid. We then went on with our conference which was most pleasant and constructive discussing his current academics where I'm glad to say he was performing at the expected level for his grade.
Posted: October 22, 2015
Posted: October 22, 2015
Posted: October 22, 2015
Posted: February 8, 2015
Great staff and very engaged and focused teachers! Very nice facility with all the latest technologies. Parent evolve mentioned is great with lots of volunteers. My son was having some focus issues but with consitant communication between teachers, staff and parents he has had enormous improvement. Only area I would improve on is Music program and extracurricular activities, it would be nice to see some sports for the older kids.
Posted: October 13, 2014
This school needs some time to mature, the staff is great but it is disorganized and this make the environment that the kids learn in very unstructured.
Posted: March 23, 2014
I've had both good and bad experience with teachers. I feel there is a group of teachers who have behavior expectations set just a little too high for students of such a young age. Yes, students should show respect, but I've been made to feel like my child should be in a corrections facility for how he acts. If I can handle my kid when he gets wild, a teacher should be able to without sending them to a counselor and suggesting I medicate them.
Posted: January 28, 2014
My son has attended Ponderosa for the last 3 school years and I couldn't be happier with the decision I made sending him there! The teachers have all be very wonderful, and their communication is great! The parent involvement is phenomenal! They are not only teaching the students basic math and reading skills, they are also building character! They are teaching these children values that are not so common anymore! Great school overall.
Posted: December 7, 2013
We have attended Ponderosa for a couple of years now and just love it. The school is new and nice and currant. The teachers and staff are so friendly and welcoming. I have felt nothing but positive energy since coming to Ponderosa. We have had teachers that go above and beyond for our children. Not every teacher is perfect, but most of them truly love their job and the children. They are so patient and loving and do their best for the students. There is a wonderful parent community at Ponderosa -- so many parents volunteer in the school! Fundraisers get amazing support and turnout from our community. The principal, Mrs. Smith, has done a nice job with the school and it is definitely headed in the right direction.
Posted: August 18, 2012
My daughter did not have a good experience in music or P.E. She has excelled in all her other areas. Mrs. Crocker has worked hard to maintain her reading level. The school is new and clean-overall nice facility. Many parents are actively involved in classroom volunteering.
Posted: May 22, 2012
Ponderosa is a good school with engaged teachers and involved parents. The music programs are especially good for an elementary school. It has struggled somewhat as a new school building an IB curriculum, and it is losing a great principal after its second year--not sure why except maybe the pressures of opening a new IB school, needing more district support. The building and grounds are beautiful with awesome technology for the kids. We recommend it as a worthwhile school, it just needs to build some stability, and that comes with time and support from the community, parents and teachers.
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
There are no bases within 50 miles of Ponderosa Elementary School.
Refine Search
National Ad
