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Schools in Thornton · Thornton Township High School District 205, Thornton School District 154

Thornton’s public schools score below 86% of Illinois districts on tests and graduation

8% of students in Thornton’s public schools are proficient in reading, below the Illinois average (30%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Thornton, 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.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Illinois state tests taken in spring 2022, 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. Thornton Township High School District 205 has no newer results, so its figures are from 2020–21.

Reading proficiency
8%
▼ 22 pts vs IL 30%
2021–22
Math proficiency
7%
▼ 19 pts vs IL 26%
2021–22
Graduate on time
82%
▼ 6 pts vs IL 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$34.7K
▲ 61% vs IL $21.6K
FY2024 · Thornton Township High School District 205
Students per teacher
14.0
IL 13.6
Schools in town
0
4,758 students on the public path
In brief

Thornton’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 8% 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 Thornton School District 154 $17,802, against $21,567 across Illinois (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Thornton’s grade

D Test scoresC− Graduation

D: better than 14% of Illinois school districts. Both inputs trail the Illinois average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Illinois school districts we grade (887)Better than 14%
Lower resultsHigher results
Illinois towns with similar household incomes (1254)Better than 10%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,167 test results and a graduating class of 1,216 could put Thornton anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when nearly all of Thornton’s students in the tested grades sat them (898 in math, 1,276 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–8Wolcott SchoolThornton School District 154No scores
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressD to C−

Thornton runs its own schools through grade 8 (Thornton School District 154). From grade 9, students attend the Thornton Township High School District 205, shared with Calumet City, Calumet, Dixmoor, Dolton, East Hazel Crest, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Phoenix, Riverdale, South Holland and Thornton. Its school is in Thornton. Parts of Thornton (8%, 8% and 6% of its land) are served by Homewood School District 153, Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233 and South Holland School District 151 instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Thornton

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

Thornton Township High School District 205Grades 9–12 · 3 schools · 4,509 students, down 7% since 2021–22 · 13.9 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$34,660IL $21,567 · FY2024
D
Thornton School District 154Grades PK–8 · 1 schools · 249 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 17.8 per teacher (IL 13.6)
$17,802IL $21,567 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Thornton Township High School District 2056%
State average 29.9% · 1117 students tested
Math · 9–12, Thornton Township High School District 2057%
State average 25.8% · 898 students tested
Reading · PK–8, Thornton School District 15422%
State average 29.9% · 159 students tested

Thornton vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ThorntonDThornton School District 154 PK–8 · Thornton Township High School District 205 9–12
South HollandDSouth Holland School District 151 PK–8 · South Holland School District 150 PK–8 · Thornton Township High School District 205 9–12
HomewoodBHomewood School District 153 PK–8 · Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233 9–12
BloomC−Bloom Township High School District 206
Thornton TownshipC−Thornton Township High School District 205 9–12 · Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 9–12
GlenwoodC−Brookwood School District 167 PK–8 · Bloom Township High School District 206 9–12

2 of the 5 neighbors share Thornton Township High School District 205 with Thornton for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Thornton

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 Thorntonin other towns
Wolcott School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
249 students18:1Rate it →
Thornwood High School
High · Grades 9–12 · South Holland
C−
1,843 students13:1Rate it →
Thornton Township High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Harvey
D
1,697 students14:1Rate it →
Thornridge High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Dolton
C−
969 students15:1Rate it →

Questions about Thornton’s schools

Are Thornton’s schools good?

On Illinois’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Thornton children attend score below 86% of Illinois’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 10%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Thornton in?

Two districts: Thornton School District 154 runs grades PK–8, and Thornton Township High School District 205 runs grades 9–12, shared with Calumet City, Calumet, Dixmoor, Dolton, East Hazel Crest, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Phoenix, Riverdale, South Holland and Thornton.

Where do Thornton 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 Thornton’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 Thornton spend per student?

$34,660 in Thornton Township High School District 205 and $17,802 in Thornton School District 154 (FY2024), against $21,567 across Illinois. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Thornton families are saying about school.

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

School data: state test results (2021–22, 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.