Summary
Ponderosa Middle School is a public middle school in Klamath Falls, Oregon, serving 561 students in grades 6–8 as part of Klamath Falls City Schools. In 2025–26 it ranked 212th of 371 Oregon middle schools, placing it at the 43rd percentile with a 2-star rating, while its district ranked 63rd of 141 (55th percentile, 3 stars). The school has come a long way from the mid-2010s, when it sat in the bottom quartile with 1-star ratings, but its percentile has stayed roughly in the 37–43 range over the last five reported years.
Ponderosa's academic profile is uneven. Science is its standout strength: 34.5% of students were proficient, above Oregon's 30.6% and far above Henley Middle School at 20.4% and Brixner Junior High School at 12.4%. English language arts is middle-of-the-pack at 40.3% — slightly ahead of Henley (38.4%) and Brixner (33.0%), but behind the state's 43.8% — with 7th grade ELA a bright spot at 47.9%. Math is the clear weak spot: 22.9% proficiency, below the district's 29.0%, the state's 32.9%, and Henley's 31.0%, though well above Brixner's 14.4%. Grade-level math scores sit in the low 20s in all three grades.
Attendance is a real concern. Ponderosa's chronic absenteeism rate was 39.8% in 2024–25, higher than the state (33.5%), Henley (27.7%), and Brixner (34.7%), and it has not improved steadily. The school spends $22,087 per student — more than Henley ($16,035) and Brixner ($19,649) — with a student-teacher ratio of 20.0. Results for student groups vary widely: gifted and talented students ranked in the 85th percentile (4 stars) and English language learners at the 59th, while special education students (33rd) and female students (36th, compared with 52nd for male students) ranked below the median. Science, math instruction, attendance, and targeted group support stand out as the areas to watch.
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