Thornton Elementary School (Ranked Bottom 50% for 2025)

Thornton Elementary School

900 Eppinger Boulevard
Denver, CO 80229

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Serving 372 students in grades Prekindergarten-5, Thornton Elementary School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Colorado for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 10-14% (which is lower than the Colorado state average of 32%). The percentage of students achieving is 15-19% (which is lower than the Colorado state average of 45%).

The student:teacher ratio of 13:1 is lower than the Colorado state level of 15:1.

Minority enrollment is 87% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Colorado state average of 50% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2025)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 372 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 13:1
Minority Enrollment: 87%
: Bottom 50% in CO
: 10-14% (Btm 50%)
: 15-19% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CO Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Thornton Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Colorado for:

School Overview

Thornton Elementary School's student population of 372 students has declined by 13% over five school years.

The teacher population of 28 teachers has grown by 7% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Thornton Elementary School
Pre-K	40
Kind	46
1	64
2	54
3	43
4	61
5	64

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Total Students

372 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Thornton Elementary School
2023	391
2022	343
2021	339
2020	430
2019	430
2018	394
2017	394
2016	399
2015	407
2014	393
2013	430
2012	434
2011	446
2010	484
2009	506
2008	487
2007	630
2006	593
2005	590
2004	579
2003	537
2002	560
2001	584
2000	536
1999	520
1998	563
1997	558
1996	563
1995	544
1994	554
1993	573
1992	656
1991	657
1990	639
1989	624
1988	681
1987	686

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

28 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Thornton Elementary School
2023	25
2022	22
2021	25
2020	26
2019	26
2018	23
2017	23
2016	24
2015	25
2014	23
2013	22
2012	23
2011	29
2010	31
2009	30
2008	32
2007	38
2006	33
2005	33
2004	31
2003	32
2002	33
2001	33
2000	32
1999	33
1998	36
1997	36
1996	33
1995	36
1994	32
1993	35
1992	39
1991	36
1990	35
1989	31
1988	37
1987	37

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School Rankings

Thornton Elementary School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,779 schools in Colorado (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Thornton Elementary School is 0.43, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.62. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (CO)

#1573 out of 1779 schools
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Thornton Elementary School
2022	#1573
2021	#1509
2019	#1651
2018	#1610
2017	#1381
2016	#1486
2015	#1568
2014	#1527
2013	#1474
2012	#1497
2011	#1501

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10-14%

32%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Thornton Elementary School	Colorado	Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District
2022	12%	32%	32%
2021	10%	33%	31%
2019	12%	35%	35%
2018	7%	35%	34%
2017	12%	33%	34%
2016	14%	33%	33%
2015	7%	31%	31%
2014	42%	57%	55%
2013	47%	57%	55%
2012	44%	56%	54%
2011	77%	82%	83%

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15-19%

45%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Thornton Elementary School	Colorado	Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District
2022	17%	45%	43%
2021	22%	47%	46%
2019	19%	47%	46%
2018	22%	44%	34%
2017	27%	42%	41%
2016	19%	40%	37%
2015	17%	40%	36%
2014	37%	69%	65%
2013	37%	70%	65%
2012	29%	70%	65%
2011	70%	89%	88%

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Student : Teacher Ratio

13:1

15:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1987-2023)
Year	Thornton Elementary School	Colorado	Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District
2023	16:1	16:1	18:1
2022	16:1	15:1	18:1
2021	14:1	15:1	18:1
2020	17:1	16:1	19:1
2019	17:1	16:1	19:1
2018	17:1	17:1	19:1
2017	17:1	17:1	19:1
2016	17:1	17:1	19:1
2015	16:1	17:1	19:1
2014	17:1	17:1	20:1
2013	20:1	17:1	21:1
2012	19:1	17:1	20:1
2011	16:1	17:1	20:1
2010	16:1	16:1	20:1
2009	17:1	16:1	20:1
2008	15:1	16:1	20:1
2007	17:1	17:1	19:1
2006	18:1	16:1	19:1
2005	18:1	17:1	20:1
2004	19:1	16:1	20:1
2003	17:1	16:1	20:1
2002	17:1	17:1	19:1
2001	18:1	17:1	20:1
2000	17:1	17:1	19:1
1999	16:1	17:1	19:1
1998	16:1	18:1	20:1
1997	16:1	18:1	20:1
1996	17:1	18:1	20:1
1995	15:1	18:1	19:1
1994	17:1	18:1	19:1
1993	16:1	18:1	19:1
1992	17:1	18:1	19:1
1991	18:1	18:1	19:1
1990	18:1	18:1	19:1
1989	20:1	18:1	19:1
1988	18:1	18:1	19:1
1987	19:1	19:1	21:1

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American Indian

n/a

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2023)
Year	Thornton Elementary School	Colorado	Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District
2023	1%	1%
2020	1%	1%	1%
2019	1%	1%	1%
2014	1%	1%	2%
2013	1%	1%	1%
2012	2%	1%	1%
2011	1%	1%
2010	1%	1%	1%
2009	1%	1%	1%
2007	2%	1%	1%
2006	1%	1%	1%
2005	1%	1%	1%
2004	2%	1%	1%
2003	3%	1%	1%
2002	2%	1%	2%
2001	2%	1%	1%
2000	2%	1%	1%
1999	2%	1%	1%
1998	2%	1%	1%
1997	1%	1%	1%
1996	2%	1%	1%
1995	1%	1%	1%
1994	2%	1%	1%
1993	1%	1%	1%
1992	1%	1%	1%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2023)
Year	Thornton Elementary School	Colorado	Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District
2023	5%	3%	6%
2022	3%	3%	7%
2021	1%	3%	6%
2020	2%	3%	5%
2019	2%	3%	5%
2018	5%	3%	5%
2017	5%	3%	5%
2016	5%	3%	5%
2015	6%	3%	6%
2014	5%	3%	5%
2013	6%	3%	5%
2012	5%	3%	5%
2011	3%	3%	3%
2010	6%	4%	6%
2009	6%	4%	6%
2008	5%	3%	5%
2007	4%	3%	5%
2006	5%	3%	5%
2005	6%	3%	5%
2004	5%	3%	5%
2003	4%	3%	5%
2002	3%	3%	5%
2001	3%	3%	5%
2000	1%	3%	4%
1999	2%	3%	4%
1998	2%	3%	4%
1997	3%	3%	3%
1996	1%	3%	3%
1995	1%	3%	3%
1993	1%	2%	3%
1992	1%	2%	3%

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Hispanic

74%

36%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Thornton Elementary School	Colorado	Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District
2023	75%	35%	45%
2022	80%	35%	44%
2021	75%	34%	44%
2020	73%	34%	42%
2019	73%	34%	42%
2018	69%	34%	41%
2017	69%	34%	41%
2016	64%	33%	40%
2015	66%	33%	38%
2014	67%	33%	35%
2013	65%	32%	33%
2012	66%	32%	33%
2011	69%	32%	32%
2010	70%	29%	31%
2009	72%	28%	31%
2008	75%	28%	31%
2007	74%	28%	30%
2006	68%	27%	29%
2005	64%	26%	28%
2004	58%	25%	27%
2003	54%	24%	25%
2002	47%	23%	24%
2001	42%	22%	23%
2000	36%	21%	21%
1999	31%	20%	20%
1998	35%	19%	19%
1997	38%	19%	19%
1996	41%	18%	18%
1995	34%	18%	17%
1994	29%	17%	16%
1993	31%	17%	16%
1992	27%	17%	16%
1991	28%	16%	15%

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Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Thornton Elementary School	Colorado	Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District
2023	3%	5%	2%
2022	1%	4%	2%
2021	4%	5%	2%
2020	3%	5%	2%
2019	3%	5%	2%
2018	2%	5%	2%
2017	2%	5%	2%
2016	4%	5%	2%
2015	3%	5%	3%
2014	3%	5%	2%
2013	2%	5%	2%
2012	2%	5%	3%
2011	1%	5%	1%
2010	3%	6%	3%
2009	2%	6%	3%
2008	2%	6%	3%
2007	3%	6%	3%
2006	5%	6%	3%
2005	4%	6%	3%
2004	3%	6%	2%
2003	4%	6%	3%
2002	2%	6%	2%
2001	2%	6%	2%
2000	1%	5%	2%
1999	3%	5%	2%
1998	4%	5%	2%
1997	4%	5%	2%
1996	5%	5%	2%
1995	3%	4%	2%
1994	3%	5%	2%
1993	2%	5%	2%
1992	2%	5%	2%
1991	2%	5%	2%

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White

13%

50%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Thornton Elementary School	Colorado	Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District
2023	13%	51%	42%
2022	14%	52%	43%
2021	18%	52%	44%
2020	19%	53%	47%
2019	19%	53%	47%
2018	22%	53%	50%
2017	22%	53%	50%
2016	25%	54%	51%
2015	24%	54%	51%
2014	22%	55%	54%
2013	25%	56%	57%
2012	25%	56%	57%
2011	25%	57%	63%
2010	20%	60%	59%
2009	19%	61%	59%
2008	18%	61%	60%
2007	17%	62%	61%
2006	21%	63%	62%
2005	25%	64%	63%
2004	32%	65%	65%
2003	35%	66%	66%
2002	46%	67%	67%
2001	51%	68%	69%
2000	60%	70%	72%
1999	62%	71%	73%
1998	57%	72%	74%
1997	54%	72%	75%
1996	51%	73%	76%
1995	61%	74%	77%
1994	66%	75%	78%
1993	65%	75%	78%
1992	69%	75%	78%
1991	67%	76%	79%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	Thornton Elementary School	Colorado	Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District
2023	3%	5%	5%
2022	2%	5%	4%
2021	2%	5%	4%
2020	2%	4%	3%
2019	2%	4%	3%
2018	2%	4%	2%
2017	2%	4%	2%
2016	2%	4%	2%
2015	1%	4%	2%
2014	1%	3%	2%
2013	1%	3%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.43

0.62

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Thornton Elementary School	Colorado	Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District
2023	0.42	0.62	0.62
2022	0.34	0.61	0.62
2021	0.41	0.61	0.61
2020	0.43	0.60	0.60
2019	0.43	0.60	0.60
2018	0.48	0.60	0.59
2017	0.48	0.60	0.59
2016	0.53	0.60	0.58
2015	0.51	0.60	0.58
2014	0.51	0.59	0.58
2013	0.53	0.59	0.57
2012	0.50	0.59	0.57
2011	0.46	0.58	0.51
2010	0.47	0.55	0.55
2009	0.45	0.55	0.55
2008	0.41	0.55	0.54
2007	0.43	0.54	0.54
2006	0.49	0.53	0.53
2005	0.53	0.52	0.53
2004	0.57	0.52	0.51
2003	0.59	0.51	0.50
2002	0.57	0.50	0.49
2001	0.57	0.49	0.48
2000	0.55	0.47	0.44
1999	0.52	0.46	0.43
1998	0.55	0.46	0.41
1997	0.57	0.45	0.40
1996	0.57	0.45	0.39
1995	0.52	0.43	0.37
1994	0.48	0.41	0.36
1993	0.49	0.41	0.35
1992	0.45	0.40	0.35
1991	0.47	0.40	0.35

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Eligible for

79%

39%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Thornton Elementary School	Colorado	Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District
2023	65%	33%	34%
2022	59%	30%	31%
2021	63%	33%	32%
2020	64%	33%	29%
2019	64%	33%	29%
2018	61%	35%	31%
2017	61%	35%	31%
2016	62%	34%	31%
2015	63%	34%	30%
2014	68%	35%	31%
2013	69%	34%	30%
2012	71%	34%	27%
2011	76%	33%	28%
2010	75%	31%	26%
2009	68%	28%	23%
2008	63%	28%	23%
2007	70%	27%	24%
2006	63%	27%	23%
2005	52%	25%	19%
2004	47%	24%	19%
2003	44%	22%	16%
2002	35%	21%	15%
2001	32%	20%	14%
2000	38%	21%	14%
1999	44%	21%	14%
1998	57%	22%	17%
1997	47%	22%	15%
1996	55%	22%	17%
1995	57%	22%	18%
1994	46%	21%	16%
1993	47%	20%	15%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2003-2023)
Year	Thornton Elementary School	Colorado	Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District
2023	14%	7%	11%
2022	21%	6%	9%
2021	19%	7%	9%
2020	20%	8%	9%
2019	20%	8%	9%
2018	15%	8%	7%
2017	15%	8%	7%
2016	14%	7%	7%
2015	13%	7%	7%
2014	12%	7%	6%
2013	16%	7%	7%
2012	16%	7%	6%
2011	11%	7%	6%
2010	9%	7%	6%
2009	11%	7%	6%
2008	12%	7%	6%
2007	7%	7%	5%
2006	10%	6%	6%
2005	12%	6%	6%
2004	11%	6%	6%
2003	12%	7%	6%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CO Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Thornton Elementary School's ranking?

Thornton Elementary School is ranked #1573 out of 1,779 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Colorado.

What schools are Thornton Elementary School often compared to?

Thornton Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Mcelwain Elementary School, Coronado Hills Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

10-14% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 32% CO state average), while 15-19% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 45% CO state average).

How many students attend Thornton Elementary School?

372 students attend Thornton Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

74% of Thornton Elementary School students are Hispanic, 13% of students are White, 7% of students are Asian, 3% of students are Black, and 3% of students are Two or more races.

What is the student:teacher ratio of Thornton Elementary School?

Thornton Elementary School has a student ration of 13:1, which is lower than the Colorado state average of 15:1.

What grades does Thornton Elementary School offer ?

Thornton Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Thornton Elementary School part of?

Thornton Elementary School is part of Adams 12 Five Star Schools School District.

School Reviews

5 12/21/2011

I've been volunteering at Thornton Elementary for the past four years, and I highly recommend this school. The teachers are excellent. The school has music, art and PE for exploratories. My only complaint is the students do not spend enough time on computers. It is essential for elementary students to become computer literate. I am a retired Media Specialist from Aurora Colorado.

- Posted by Teacher - jhous

Review Thornton Elementary School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities

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Quick Stats (2025)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 372 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 13:1
Minority Enrollment: 87%
: Bottom 50%
: 10-14% (Btm 50%)
: 15-19% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), CO Dept. of Education