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Below Average

#1621 of 1,815 schools in CO

Thornton Middle School

Middle School · Adams 12 Five Star Schools

9451 HOFFMAN WAY, Thornton, CO 80229

Enrollment

719

Student-Teacher

16.7:1

Score

4.0

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Colorado schools

#1,621 of 1,815

In Thornton

#31 of 39

public schools

In district

#45 of 53

Adams 12 Five Star Schools

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Thornton Middle School

4.0/10

Middle School in Thornton · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Thornton High School

4.6/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Thornton Elementary School

5.0/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Thornton Middle School

Thornton Middle School is a public middle school in Thornton, CO, part of Adams 12 Five Star Schools. Thornton Middle School serves approximately 719 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Thornton Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,621 of 1,815 schools in CO.

Structured state assessment records for Thornton Middle School show 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 23% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.7 pts below district
  • This school 4.0 · Below Average
  • District avg 4.7
  • CO avg 6.0

What Parents Should Know

Test scores at Thornton Middle School sit below average, but its growth scores are strong: students here make above-average progress year over year. The raw numbers haven't caught up, but a school that keeps moving kids forward is doing the harder, more important work.

76% of students at Thornton Middle School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.4Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-3.36 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics2.5Needs Improvement35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency4.5% (2025 CMAS)
Reading/ELA Proficiency9.8% (2025 CMAS)
Math vs. State Avg-31.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-35.1 pts
Overall Proficiency7% (2025 CMAS, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)17% (model expectation from 2025 CMAS)
vs. Expected-9.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile8th
Resources & Environment2.3Needs Improvement25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,748
Chronic Absenteeism76.4%

Thornton Middle School — Students at Thornton Middle School score 7% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 16%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

91.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CO CMAS (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 17.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
36.5% (2025 CMAS)
ELA Proficiency 23.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
46.0% (2025 CMAS)

Based on 33 test records from CO state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
63%
ELA
71%
2010
Math
65%
ELA
67%
2011
Math
24%
ELA
33%
2012
Math
22%
ELA
32%
2013
Math
25%
ELA
37%
2014
Math
10%
ELA
13%
2015
Math
11%
ELA
16%
2016
Math
12%
ELA
16%
2017
Math
7%
ELA
14%
2018
Math
10%
ELA
16%
2019
Math
10%
ELA
16%
2020*
Math
5%
ELA
12%
2021*
Math
5%
ELA
12%
2022
Math
6%
2025
Math
5.1%
ELA
9.8%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.4/10.

How Thornton Middle School Compares

See how Thornton Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.0/10
11th percentile in CO
Academic
2.5/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
6.4/10
Average
Environment
2.3/10
Needs Improvement
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
91%
Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
43 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
76.4%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

9451 HOFFMAN WAY, Thornton, CO 80229

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Thornton Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Mapleton Early Career Preparation (rated 6.0/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Northglenn High School (rated 5.8/10, 1.2 miles away, in nearby Northglenn), which scores notably higher. Additionally, North Mor Elementary School (rated 5.3/10, 0.8 miles away, in nearby Northglenn), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Thornton, see our Thornton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Thornton High School Thornton 0.2 mi 4.6
Thornton Elementary School Thornton 0.2 mi 5.0
New America School - Thornton Thornton 0.6 mi 4.4
North Mor Elementary School Northglenn 0.8 mi 5.3
A CHILD'S TOUCH Thornton 0.9 mi
McElwain Elementary School Thornton 1.1 mi 4.8
Achieve Academy Thornton 0.9 mi 3.4
York International Thornton 1.0 mi 5.2
Preschool on Poze Thornton 1.1 mi 3.9
North Star Elementary School Denver 1.2 mi 5.2
Coronado Hills Elementary School Thornton 1.4 mi 4.8
North Valley School for Young Adults Thornton 1.2 mi 3.9
Northglenn High School Northglenn 1.2 mi 5.8
Academy High School Thornton 1.2 mi 5.1
Clayton Partnership School Thornton 1.2 mi 4.8
Monterey Community School Denver 1.3 mi 3.1
The Studio School Northglenn 1.5 mi 4.7
Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts Thornton 1.3 mi 3.8
Mapleton Early Career Preparation Thornton 1.3 mi 6.0
Leroy Elementary Northglenn 1.6 mi 3.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 80229 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$83,450

Median Home Value

$382,900

Median Rent

$1,719/mo

Population

57,274

College Educated

19.8%

Homeownership

67.7%

Avg Commute

29.5 min

Poverty Rate

9.1%

Median Age

32.6

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Liberty Point International School Pueblo West, CO 4.0
Sky View Middle School Pueblo West, CO 4.0
Vikan Middle School Brighton, CO 4.0
Bookcliff Middle School Grand Junction, CO 4.1
North Middle School Health Sciences and Technology Aurora, CO 4.1
Otho E Stuart Middle School Commerce City, CO 4.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Thornton Middle School

What grades does Thornton Middle School serve?

Thornton Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Thornton Middle School?

Thornton Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 719 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Thornton Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Thornton Middle School is 16.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Thornton Middle School rank in CO?

Thornton Middle School ranks #1,621 of 1,815 schools in CO.

What is Thornton Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Thornton Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Thornton Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Thornton Middle School has 18% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 23% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Thornton Middle School a charter school?

No, Thornton Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Thornton Middle School a Title I school?

No, Thornton Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thornton Middle School?

91.2% of students at Thornton Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
76 Very Walkable
Transit Score
30 Some Transit
Bike Score
39 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
719
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
43
Free/Reduced Lunch
91.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Adams County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
76.4%

District

Adams 12 Five Star Schools
District Enrollment
34,998
Schools in District
54
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,748
District Rank
#45 of 53

How we rate schools

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