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
Enrollment
1,868
Student-Teacher
13.2:1
Score
7.7
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
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 metricsView breakdown
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Thornwood High School — Students at Thornwood High School score 8% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 16%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
72.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IL EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 5 test records from IL state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2020-21 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 8% (2019) to 8% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 12% (2019) to 8% (2022).
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.
Neighborhood Context
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
- Phone
- (708) 225-4701
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Thornton Twp HSD 205- District Enrollment
- 4,491
- Schools in District
- 5
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $28,504
- District Rank
- #1 of 3
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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