Photo: Boscophotos · CC BY-SA 3.0Riverdale’s public schools score below 93% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation
7% of students in Riverdale’s public schools are proficient in reading, below the Illinois average (30%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Riverdale, 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.
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.
Riverdale’s schools, in brief
Results trail the state
In spring 2021, 7% 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
82% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
Thornton Township High School District 205 spends $34,660 per student and Dolton School District 148 $28,547, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Seven elementary schools, then four middle and three high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is down 7% since 2021–22. 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.
What’s behind Riverdale’s grade
D: better than 7% of Illinois school districts, #737 of 768 Illinois towns. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Riverdale, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Riverdale · depends on your address
Early Childhood Cntr
Grades PK · 196 students · 16:1 students per teacher · in Dolton
Gen George Patton Elem School
Grades PK–8 · 184 students · 11:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Riverdale · depends on your address
Thornwood High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,843 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in South Holland
Thornton Township High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,697 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Harvey
Thornridge High School
Grades 9–12 · 969 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Dolton
10th grade in Riverdale · depends on your address
Thornwood High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,843 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in South Holland
Thornton Township High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,697 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Harvey
Thornridge High School
Grades 9–12 · 969 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Dolton
11th grade in Riverdale · depends on your address
Thornwood High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,843 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in South Holland
Thornton Township High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,697 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Harvey
Thornridge High School
Grades 9–12 · 969 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Dolton
12th grade in Riverdale · depends on your address
Thornwood High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,843 students · 13:1 students per teacher · in South Holland
Thornton Township High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,697 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Harvey
Thornridge High School
Grades 9–12 · 969 students · 15:1 students per teacher · in Dolton
Parts of Riverdale (7% of its land) are served by Calumet Public School District 132 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Three districts serve Riverdale
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Riverdale vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Illinois towns that share Riverdale’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Riverdale | D | Dolton School District 148 PK–8 · General George Patton School District 133 PK–8 · Thornton Township High School District 205 9–12 |
| Calumet | C− | Calumet Public School District 132 PK–8 · General George Patton School District 133 PK–8 · Cook County School District 130 PK–8 |
| Chicago | C | Chicago Public School District 299 PK–12 · Maine Township High School District 207 9–12 · Township High School District 214 9–12 |
| Blue Island | C− | Cook County School District 130 PK–8 · Community High School District 218 9–12 |
| Dixmoor | D | West Harvey-Dixmoor Public School District 147 PK–8 · Thornton Township High School District 205 9–12 |
| Thornton | C− | Thornton Township High School District 205 9–12 · Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 9–12 |
| Dolton | D | Dolton School District 149 PK–8 · Dolton School District 148 PK–8 · Thornton Township High School District 205 9–12 |
4 of the 6 neighbors share Thornton Township High School District 205 with Riverdale for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Riverdale
13 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).
Questions about Riverdale’s schools
Are Riverdale’s schools good?
On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Riverdale children attend score below 93% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #737 of 768 Illinois towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 10%. Tests are from 2020–21, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Riverdale in?
Thornton Township High School District 205, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 4,509 students in 3 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Riverdale are served by Calumet Public School District 132.
Where do Riverdale kids go to high school?
One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Thornwood High School, Thornton Township High School and Thornridge High School.
What is Riverdale’s graduation rate?
82% of the class of 2023 in Thornton Township High School District 205 graduated in four years, against 88% across Illinois.
How much does Riverdale spend per student?
$34,660 in Thornton Township High School District 205, $28,547 in Dolton School District 148 and $32,229 in General George Patton School District 133 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Riverdale families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Riverdale → 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.