Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 32 schools in district

Ponchatoula Junior High School

315 East Oak Street, Ponchatoula, LA 70454Tangipahoa Parish →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 07–08Non-Charter
770
Students
Total enrolled
$13,701
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
18.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 21% vs nat'l
41/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 18% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 770 students in grades 07–08 in Ponchatoula, Louisiana.
Near-average funding
District spends $13,701 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 41th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Ponchatoula Junior High School is a large middle in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, serving grades 07–08 with 770 students. The district invests $13,701 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 18.7:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 60% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Ponchatoula Junior High School

770
Total Students
18.7 : 1
Student:Teacher
60%
Free Lunch
41
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (07–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution391 male · 379 female
51%
49%
Male 51%Female 49%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility60%
National avg 52% · 460 students
Student Composition
51%
35%
Asian1%
White51%
Hispanic / Latino7%
Black35%
Multiracial6%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 220168001317

Academic Outcomes at Ponchatoula Junior High School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
41
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 41th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 34th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 70454

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$13,701Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$13,701
State avg
$18,624
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,028
Student Support$2,603
Administration$1,644
Operations$2,055
Other$1,370
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $13,701 spent per student, an estimated $6,069 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
41%
39%
State government
40.7%
Local (property tax)
39.2%
Federal programs
20.1%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Hammond Eastside MagnetChamp Cooper Elementary SchoolHammond Westside MontessoriLoranger Elementary School
+13 more
↓
Middle
Martha Vinyard Elementary SchoolLoranger Middle SchoolGreenville Park Leadership AcademyNatalbany Middle
+2 more
↓
High School
Ponchatoula High SchoolHammond High Magnet SchoolLoranger High SchoolIndependence High Magnet
+3 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades07 – 08
Location—
CountyTangipahoa Parish
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictTangipahoa Parish →
Phone: (985)370-5322
NCES ID: 220168001317
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Ponchatoula seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Tangipahoa Parish
High
Ponchatoula High School
2,262 students · 09–12
● 41 opp51% FRL
High
Hammond High Magnet School
1,750 students · 09–12
64% FRL
Elem
Hammond Eastside Magnet
1,343 students · PK–08
68% FRL
Elem
Champ Cooper Elementary School
1,126 students · PK–08
● 41 opp57% FRL
Elem
Hammond Westside Montessori
1,072 students · PK–08
73% FRL
Elem
Loranger Elementary School
834 students · PK–04
67% FRL
Mid
Martha Vinyard Elementary School
733 students · 05–06
● 41 opp63% FRL
Elem
Tucker Memorial Elementary School
709 students · 01–02
● 41 opp67% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
315 East Oak Street, Ponchatoula, LA 70454
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.