In 2005, Ponderosa teacher Nicole Rea Barnhart became a registered sex offender after it was discovered that she was having an intimate relationship with one of her sophomore students.
On April 20, 2007, former Ponderosa student Caleb Pegues, as a prank, set off a stink bomb in an area frequented by students who allegedly smoked marijuana in the area. The date, April 20 holds some significance to many people, as well as being the anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre. The stink bomb consisted of a combination of various household chemicals. Reports indicated that either a toilet bowl cleaner or ammonia was put in a plastic bottle along with a piece of tin foil. This reaction created a gas, causing the plastic bottle to expand until it burst. The gas created by such a mixture reportedly smells like rotten eggs. As a result of this prank, Pegues was arrested, charged as an adult under Colorado's Direct File Statute by District Attorney for Colorado's 18th Judicial District, Carol Chambers, for committing several felonies before any investigation. Chambers was criticized harshly by the public for overreacting and filing excessive charges against Pegues. Many newspaper stories expressed the opinion that it was not appropriate that Chambers charge the juvenile as an adult for what most would consider nothing more than a childish prank.
Extracurricular activities
Athletics
Ponderosa has won ten 5A state wrestling titles since 1997, including eight consecutive wins between 2003 and 2010. The seventh consecutive win broke a 60-year-old record set in 1944–1949 by Denver North. In addition, Ponderosa has a perfect 167–0 conference dual record from 1994 to the present. NFHS Coaches Association National Wrestling coach of the year Tim Ottmann retired after 2008 and the team is now coached by Tito Rinaldis. Ponderosa's football team won the 2003 5A State Championship. Ponderosa has also won state championships in Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, Girls Softball, Girls Volleyball, and Boys Lacrosse. The school moved down to CHSAA 4A starting in the 2011–12 school year, due to the foundation of Legend High School in 2008.
Band program
The Ponderosa High School bands have a history in the Parker community. The Marching Band has been state champions nine times, last winning in 2001. The Winter Percussion Ensemble won the Colorado state championship in 2019, came in second place in 2008, and has won numerous awards throughout its history. In 2011 the school hired Bill Phalen as band director.
Notable alumni
Jennifer Allison, Denver radio personality "Tracy Taylor" on 92.5 the Wolf
