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Average

#124 of 302 schools in RI

Top 41% in state

Thornton School

Elementary School · Johnston

4 School Street, Johnston, RI 02919

Enrollment

346

Student-Teacher

11.5:1

Score

6.5

Grades

1st – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Rhode Island schools

#124 of 302

In Johnston

#3 of 8

public schools

In district

#3 of 8

Johnston

School environment

8.0 / 10

Excellent

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Thornton School

6.5/10

Elementary School in Johnston · grades 1st – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Rocco School

6.3/10

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

Stone Hill School

6.6/10

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

About Thornton School

Thornton School is a public elementary school in Johnston, RI, part of Johnston. Thornton School serves approximately 346 students, and covers grades 1st-5th, and has a 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Thornton School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #124 of 302 schools in RI.

Structured state assessment records for Thornton School show 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 6.5 · Average
  • District avg 6.4
  • RI avg 6.1

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.8Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.34 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics6.6Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency24% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency25% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency25% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)20% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+4.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile50th
Resources & Environment8.0Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$20,836
Chronic Absenteeism26.9%

Thornton School — Students at Thornton School score 24% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 20%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

62.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores RI EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 34.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 44.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
School
State
N/A

Based on 28 test records from RI state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
52%
ELA
72%
2010
Math
47%
ELA
62%
2011
Math
46%
ELA
64%
2012
Math
52%
ELA
65%
2013
Math
55%
ELA
70%
2014
Math
26%
ELA
44%
2015
Math
30%
ELA
39%
2016
Math
29%
ELA
29%
2017
Math
23%
ELA
28%
2018
Math
29%
ELA
31%
2019
Math
29%
ELA
31%
2020*
Math
17%
ELA
30%
2021*
Math
17%
ELA
30%
2022
Math
24%
ELA
25%

* 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: 5.8/10.

How Thornton School Compares

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

Overall Score
6.5/10
59th percentile in RI
Academic
6.6/10
Average
Growth
5.8/10
Average
Environment
8.0/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
63%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
30 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
26.9%

Location

4 School Street, Johnston, RI 02919

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Thornton School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Frank D. Spaziano Elem School (rated 6.9/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby Providence), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Stone Hill School (rated 6.6/10, 0.8 miles away, in nearby Cranston), with a very similar rating. Additionally, ST MARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 6.4/10, 0.9 miles away, in nearby Cranston), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Johnston, see our Johnston schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.1 mi
School Distance Rating
ST ROCCO SCHOOL Johnston 0.3 mi 6.3
Stone Hill School Cranston 0.8 mi 6.6
ST MARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Cranston 0.9 mi 6.4
George J. Peters School Cranston 1.1 mi 4.6
Winsor Hill School Johnston 1.3 mi 5.3
Western Hills Middle School Cranston 1.6 mi 5.0
Anthony Carnevale Elementary Providence 1.5 mi 5.0
Arlington School Cranston 1.3 mi 3.0
Governor Christopher DelSesto Providence 1.6 mi 4.9
Cranston High School West Cranston 1.8 mi 7.4
Achievement First Providence H Providence 1.5 mi 4.5
Gladstone Street School Cranston 1.5 mi 4.0
Frank D. Spaziano Elem School Providence 1.7 mi 6.9
MISS LEE ANNS EARLY LEARNING CENTER Cranston 2.0 mi
Hugh B. Bain Middle School Cranston 1.6 mi 4.1
Achievement First Providence Providence 1.8 mi 3.5
AF Providence Mayoral Middle Providence 1.8 mi 3.4
Achievement First Envision Ele Providence 1.8 mi 5.3
Webster Avenue School Providence 1.7 mi 5.3
Woodridge School Cranston 2.1 mi 5.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 02919 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$87,811

Median Home Value

$326,100

Median Rent

$1,259/mo

Population

29,473

College Educated

29.1%

Homeownership

72.4%

Avg Commute

23.1 min

Poverty Rate

8.7%

Median Age

42.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Austin T. Levy School Harrisville, RI 6.6
Garvin Memorial Cumberland, RI 6.6
Hopkins Hill School Coventry, RI 6.6
North Scituate School North Scituate, RI 6.6
PRECIOUS ANGELS CHILD CARE CENTER Warwick, RI 6.4
Peace Dale School Peace Dale, RI 6.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Thornton School

What grades does Thornton School serve?

Thornton School serves students in grades 1st through 5th.

How many students attend Thornton School?

Thornton School has an enrollment of approximately 346 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Thornton School?

The student-teacher ratio at Thornton School is 11.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Thornton School rank in RI?

Thornton School ranks #124 of 302 schools in RI.

What is Thornton School's MySchoolScout rating?

Thornton School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 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 School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Thornton School has 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Thornton School a charter school?

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

Is Thornton School a Title I school?

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

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

62.7% of students at Thornton 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
65 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
43 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
1st – 5th
Enrollment
346
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Free/Reduced Lunch
62.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Providence County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
26.9%

District

Johnston
District Enrollment
3,172
Schools in District
8
Per-Pupil Spending
$20,836
District Rank
#3 of 8

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