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Very Good

#91 of 480 schools in NH

Top 19% in state

Thornton Central School

Elementary School · Thornton School District

1886 NH Rte. 175, Thornton, NH 03285

Enrollment

173

Student-Teacher

7.2:1

Score

7.9

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

New Hampshire elementary schools

#65 of 280

Academic performance

8.9 / 10

Exceptional

About Thornton Central School

Thornton Central School serves 173 students from kindergarten through eighth grade in this picturesque New Hampshire community. With an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 7.2:1 across its 24 full-time equivalent teachers, the school provides an intimate learning environment where individual attention flourishes. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranking 49th among New Hampshire's 483 elementary schools, placing it in the 90th percentile statewide.

Students achieve solid proficiency rates of 62% in both English Language Arts and mathematics, reflecting the school's commitment to foundational academic skills across all grade levels. Thornton Central draws from a stable community where families have established deep roots. The surrounding neighborhood shows economic stability with a median household income of $82,593 and home values averaging $273,900.

With 40% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a low poverty rate of 7.7%, the community demonstrates strong educational values that support student success. The school operates in New Hampshire's scenic Grafton County, where the rural setting provides students with a close-knit educational experience amid the natural beauty of the White Mountain region.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 173 students, Thornton Central School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.2:1, Thornton Central School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Located in a rural area, Thornton Central School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.0Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-1.74 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency62%
Reading/ELA Proficiency62%
Overall Proficiency62%
Expected (poverty-adj.)51%
vs. Expected+11.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment8.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio7.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$26,249

Thornton Central School — Students at Thornton Central School score 62% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 51%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

20.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NH EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 63.7%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 63.7%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from NH state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2019
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2021*
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2022
Math
62%
ELA
62%

* 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: 7.0/10.

How Thornton Central School Compares

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

Overall Score
7.9/10
81th percentile in NH
Academic
8.9/10
8.9/10
Growth
7.0/10
Above average
Environment
8.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
20%
Teaching Staff
7:1 student-teacher ratio
24 teachers

Location

1886 NH Rte. 175, Thornton, NH 03285

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Thornton Central School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Holderness Central School (rated 9.5/10, 10.6 miles away, in nearby Holderness), which scores notably higher. Another option is Lin-Wood Public School (Elem) (rated 9.4/10, 10.2 miles away, in nearby Lincoln), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Plymouth Elementary School (rated 8.7/10, 9.2 miles away, in nearby Plymouth), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Thornton, see our Thornton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 18.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Campton Elementary School Campton 3.4 mi 8.2
WHITE MOUNTAIN MONTESSORI SCHOOL Holderness 9.2 mi
Plymouth Elementary School Plymouth 9.2 mi 8.7
Plymouth Regional High School Plymouth 9.3 mi 6.5
Lin-Wood Public School (Elem) Lincoln 10.2 mi 9.4
Lin-Wood Public School (Middle) Lincoln 10.2 mi 8.7
Lin-Wood Public School (High) Lincoln 10.2 mi 6.3
Holderness Central School Holderness 10.6 mi 9.5
CALVARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Plymouth 10.1 mi
Mountain Village Charter School Plymouth 10.0 mi 5.2
WATERVILLE VALLEY ACADEMY Waterville Valley 8.8 mi
Waterville Valley Elementary School Waterville Valley 8.8 mi 6.3
Russell Elementary School Rumney 10.0 mi 6.2
Ashland Elementary School Ashland 13.8 mi 7.3
Warren Village School Warren 11.6 mi 7.8
Wentworth Elementary School Wentworth 11.7 mi 5.4
Sandwich Central School Ctr. Sandwich 12.7 mi 4.3
Bridgewater-Hebron Village School Bridgewater 17.7 mi 7.5
Inter-Lakes Elementary School Meredith 17.9 mi 5.3
Inter-Lakes High School Meredith 18.0 mi 7.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 03285 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$81,094

Median Home Value

$289,700

Median Rent

$1,269/mo

Population

2,763

College Educated

42.3%

Homeownership

83.3%

Avg Commute

27.9 min

Poverty Rate

8.6%

Median Age

47.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Thornton Central School has a median household income of $81,094. It is a well-educated community where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $289,700, with a median rent of $1,269/month. The local poverty rate of 8.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 28 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Madison Elementary School Madison, NH 7.9
Carpenter School Wolfeboro, NH 7.8
Boscawen Elementary School Boscawen, NH 8.2
Bristol Elementary School Bristol, NH 8.2
CARDIGAN MOUNTAIN SCHOOL Canaan, NH 8.2
Charlestown Primary School Charlestown, NH 7.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Thornton Central School

What grades does Thornton Central School serve?

Thornton Central School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Thornton Central School?

Thornton Central School has an enrollment of approximately 173 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Thornton Central School is 7.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Thornton Central School rank in NH?

Thornton Central School is ranked #91 out of 480 schools in NH.

What is Thornton Central School's MySchoolScout rating?

Thornton Central School has a composite rating of 7.9 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 Thornton Central School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Thornton Central School has 63.7% math proficiency and 63.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Thornton Central School a charter school?

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

Is Thornton Central School a Title I school?

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

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

20.2% of students at Thornton Central 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
17 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
18 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Low (243/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
173
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
24
Free/Reduced Lunch
20.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Grafton County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Thornton School District
District Enrollment
173
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$28,427
District Rank
#1 of 1

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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