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Very Good

#621 of 3,813 schools in IL

Top 16% in state

Thornwood High School

High School · Thornton Twp HSD 205

17101 S Park Ave, South Holland, IL 60473

Enrollment

1,868

Student-Teacher

13.2:1

Score

7.7

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In South Holland

#1 of 7

public schools

Illinois high schools

#97 of 703

In district

#1 of 3

Thornton Twp HSD 205

Academic growth

9.0 / 10

Exceptional

About Thornwood High School

Thornwood High School serves 1,868 students in grades 9-12 in South Holland, Illinois, operating with a student-teacher ratio of 13.2:1 and 141 full-time equivalent teachers. As a regular public high school in Cook County, Thornwood faces academic challenges with room for significant growth, ranking in the 15th percentile among Illinois high schools at #3263 out of 3819 schools statewide. The school's current English Language Arts performance shows 8% of students testing proficient or above across grade levels, indicating opportunities for focused academic improvement and student support initiatives.

With nearly 1,900 students, Thornwood represents one of the larger high schools in the region, providing a substantial educational community for families in the area. The school draws from a diverse suburban community where the median household income reaches $80,893 and median home values average $180,300. About 28% of local residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the poverty rate stands at 13.8% among the ZIP code's 21,695 residents.

Thornwood High School sits in South Holland's large suburban setting, serving families throughout this established Cook County community that offers a mix of residential neighborhoods and suburban amenities.

What Parents Should Know

While current test scores at Thornwood High School are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.0Exceptional25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.67 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics3.6Fair25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency8%
Reading/ELA Proficiency8%
Overall Proficiency8%
Expected (poverty-adj.)16%
vs. Expected-8.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile17th
College Readiness9.2Exceptional30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation8.4%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$21,928

Thornwood High School — Students at Thornwood High School score 8% 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

72.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IL EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 8.0%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 9.7%
School
State
N/A

Based on 5 test records from IL state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
8%
ELA
12%
2021*
Math
8%
ELA
9%
2022
ELA
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: 9.0/10.

How Thornwood High School Compares

See how Thornwood High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.7/10
84th percentile in IL
Academic
3.6/10
3.6/10
Growth
9.0/10
Above average
Environment
8.8/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
72%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
141 teachers

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs IB Programme
8.4% participation·26 IB enrolled·CRDC 2020-21

Data as of 2020-21 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

17101 S Park Ave, South Holland, IL 60473

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Thornwood High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Thornridge High School (rated 7.4/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Dolton), with a very similar rating. Another option is UNITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (rated 7.2/10, 1.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, AMERICAN SCHOOL (rated 4.8/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby Lansing), a more accessible option. For more schools in South Holland, see our South Holland schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.5 mi
School Distance Rating
McKinley Elem School South Holland 0.5 mi 4.6
McKinley Jr High School South Holland 0.5 mi 5.5
LAREN MONTESSORI SCHOOL South Holland 0.9 mi
UNITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY South Holland 1.0 mi 7.2
Greenwood Elem School South Holland 0.9 mi 4.3
Wolcott School Thornton 1.1 mi 5.2
CALVIN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL South Holland 1.3 mi 5.5
CALVARY ACADEMY South Holland 1.2 mi 5.4
Eisenhower School South Holland 1.7 mi 7.4
Madison School South Holland 1.9 mi 6.5
Taft School Harvey 1.6 mi 7.1
Coolidge Middle School Phoenix 2.0 mi 7.1
THE ALPHABET CAMPUS Homewood 2.0 mi
Holmes Elem School Harvey 2.0 mi 6.3
Thornridge High School Dolton 2.6 mi 7.4
Longwood Elem School Glenwood 2.4 mi 4.8
Brookwood Jr High School Glenwood 2.8 mi 5.4
Brookwood Middle School Glenwood 2.9 mi 5.3
AMERICAN SCHOOL Lansing 2.2 mi 4.8
New Beginnings Learning Academy South Holland 2.5 mi 7.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 60473 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$88,046

Median Home Value

$200,000

Median Rent

$1,914/mo

Population

21,407

College Educated

26.6%

Homeownership

83.2%

Avg Commute

36.5 min

Poverty Rate

13.2%

Median Age

42.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding Thornwood High School has a median household income of $88,046. It is an area where 27% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $200,000, with a median rent of $1,914/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.2%. The average commute in the area is 37 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Argo Community High School Summit, IL 7.7
Batavia Sr High School Batavia, IL 7.7
Rich Township High School Olympia Fields, IL 7.7
St Charles North High School Saint Charles, IL 7.7
Washington Comm High School Washington, IL 7.7
Glenbard East High School Lombard, IL 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Thornwood High School

What grades does Thornwood High School serve?

Thornwood High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Thornwood High School?

Thornwood High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,868 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Thornwood High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Thornwood High School is 13.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Thornwood High School rank in IL?

Thornwood High School is ranked #621 out of 3,813 schools in IL.

What is Thornwood High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Thornwood High School has a composite rating of 7.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Thornwood High School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Thornwood High School has 8.0% math proficiency and 9.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Thornwood High School a charter school?

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

Is Thornwood High School a Title I school?

No, Thornwood High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thornwood High School?

72.1% of students at Thornwood High 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
39 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
27 Some Transit
Bike Score
36 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,461/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (South Holland). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,868
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
141
Free/Reduced Lunch
72.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Cook County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Thornton Twp HSD 205
District Enrollment
4,491
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$28,504
District Rank
#1 of 3

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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