Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy

Located at 21 Hunters Lane, in Norwalk, Connecticut, Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy is a mid-tier middle-grades school that works with 637 students (grades 6 through 8), one of the schools within Norwalk School District. That puts it 22% larger than the typical public school in Connecticut, which averages around 521 students.

Across the 22 schools in Norwalk School District (11,341 students total), Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Looking at the student body, Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy shows that Hispanic students make up the majority at 66%. The remainder looks like 16% Black, 10% White, 5% Asian, 3% multiracial. That is visibly more Hispanic than the county at large, where the share is closer to 21%.

On the income-and-resources front, On paper, Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy has 53 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 12.0:1. The state averages around 11.3:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. An estimated 62% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. Set against Western Connecticut Planning Region (around 33%), the school's rate is noticeably above typical.

Across the wider county, census data for Western Connecticut Planning Region shows median household income runs about $128,188, 56% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 5%. Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy is one of 149 public schools in Western Connecticut Planning Region (combined enrollment of about 90,520 students).

The closest other public school is Concord Magnet School, roughly 0.0 miles away. Within five miles, there are 8 other public schools.

The campus sits in a commuter-belt setting.

Five-year trend. Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy's enrollment has declined 8% since 2018, when it stood at 692 (now 637). Over the same period, the Hispanic share grew from 58% to 66%.

In the discussion threads here, the feed for Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy typically covers sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.