Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Burnham

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
C−
Schools in Burnham · Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215, Burnham School District 154-5

Burnham’s public schools score below 84% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Burnham’s districts is 7%, below the Illinois average (26%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Burnham, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Illinois, not nationally.

#673of 768 Illinois townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Illinois state tests taken in spring 2021, when nearly all of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
10%
▼ 20 pts vs IL 30%
2020–21
Math proficiency
7%
▼ 18 pts vs IL 26%
2020–21
Graduate on time
90%
▲ 2 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$25.1K
▲ 16% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024 · Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215
Students per teacher
15.9
IL 13.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
3,718 students on the public path
In brief

Burnham’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2021, 10% of tested students were proficient in reading and 7% in math, against 30% and 26% statewide; nearly all of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 spends $25,124 per student and Burnham School District 154-5 $23,439, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Burnham’s grade

D Test scoresB Graduation

C−: better than 16% of Illinois school districts, #673 of 768 Illinois towns. Graduation is above the Illinois average; test scores are below it.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 16%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (1181)Better than 15%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,454 test results and a graduating class of 799 could put Burnham anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2021, when nearly all of Burnham’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,301 in math, 1,497 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Burnham, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–82 schoolsDepends on your addressC−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C

Parts of Burnham (12% and 12% of its land) are served by Dolton School District 149 and Thornton Township High School District 205 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Three districts serve Burnham

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215Grades 9–12 · 2 schools · 3,228 students, down 3% since 2021–22 · 16.7 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$25,124IL $21,567 · FY2024
C
Burnham School District 154-5Grades K–8 · 1 schools · 141 students, down 19% since 2020–21 · 14.1 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$23,439IL $21,567 · FY2024
D−
Calumet City School District 155Grades PK–8 · 3 schools · 966 students, down 7% since 2020–21 · 13.8 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$19,409IL $21,567 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2020–21

Well below the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Thornton Fractional Township High School District 21512%
State average 29.9% · 786 students tested
Math · 9–12, Thornton Fractional Township High School District 2159%
State average 25.8% · 773 students tested
Reading · K–8, Burnham School District 154-58%
State average 29.9% · 110 students tested
Math · K–8, Burnham School District 154-55%
State average 25.8% · 55 students tested · the state reports 0–10%
Reading · PK–8, Calumet City School District 1558%
State average 29.9% · 601 students tested
Math · PK–8, Calumet City School District 1555%
State average 25.8% · 528 students tested

Burnham vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Burnham’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
BurnhamC−Calumet City School District 155 PK–8 · Burnham School District 154-5 K–8 · Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 9–12
ChicagoCChicago Public School District 299 PK–12 · Maine Township High School District 207 9–12 · Township High School District 214 9–12
ThorntonC−Thornton Township High School District 205 9–12 · Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 9–12
Calumet CityDHoover-Schrum Memorial School District 157 PK–8 · Calumet City School District 155 PK–8 · Dolton School District 149 PK–8

2 of the 3 neighbors share Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 with Burnham for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Burnham

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Illinois’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Burnhamin other towns
Wilson Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Calumet City
349 students15:1Rate it →
Burnham Elem School
Elementary · Grades K–8
C−
141 students14:1Rate it →
Thornton Fractnl So High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Lansing
C
1,803 students17:1Rate it →
Thornton Fractnl No High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Calumet City
C−
1,425 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Burnham’s schools

Are Burnham’s schools good?

On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Burnham children attend score below 84% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #673 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 15%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Burnham in?

Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 3,228 students in 2 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Burnham are served by Dolton School District 149 and Thornton Township High School District 205.

Where do Burnham kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Thornton Fractnl So High School and Thornton Fractnl No High School.

What is Burnham’s graduation rate?

90% of the class of 2023 in Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.

How much does Burnham spend per student?

$25,124 in Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215, $23,439 in Burnham School District 154-5 and $19,409 in Calumet City School District 155 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Burnham families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Burnham → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2020–21, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Illinois. Stars are from neighbors.