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Thornton Central School

Q: Is Thornton Central School a good school?

Thornton Central School ranks 46 th of 230 New Hampshire elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-8

46^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 230 New Hampshire Elementary Schools

Better than 80% of New Hampshire elementary schools

Summary

Thornton Central School is a small public school serving 172 students in grades K–8 in the community of Thornton, New Hampshire, as part of the Thornton School District. The school ranks 46th out of 230 New Hampshire schools, placing it in the 80th percentile with a four-star rating. Its ranking has remained consistently strong over time, generally placing it among the top quarter of schools statewide. Thornton also has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 7.1, which may support smaller instructional groups and more individualized attention.

Reading is the school’s clearest academic strength. Overall reading proficiency is 62%, above the 55% state average, with especially strong results in grades 3–6: 68% in grade 3, 69% in grade 4, 78% in grade 5, and 79% in grade 6. Thornton’s current reading result is close to Campton Elementary School and Plymouth Elementary School, though below Holderness Central School and Sandwich Central School. Mathematics is more concerning: 46% of students are proficient, only slightly above the 44% state average and below several nearby schools. Science is also just above average at 40%, after stronger results in the previous two years.

The largest area for improvement is the upper grades, particularly eighth-grade math, where 25% of students were proficient compared with 40% statewide. Seventh- and eighth-grade reading results are also below the state average, suggesting that the middle-school years may need more focused support. By comparison, current all-grade results at Campton Elementary School, Holderness Central School, and Sandwich Central School are generally stronger in math, reading, or science, although Thornton’s long-term ranking is highly stable. Overall, the school offers a strong foundation, small classes, and solid elementary reading performance, while families may want to ask about plans to strengthen middle-school math, literacy, and science.

172

Students ?

7.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,780

Per pupil spending ?

22.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1886 NH Rte. 175
Thornton, NH 03285

(603) 726-8904

District: Thornton School District

Students who attend Thornton Central School usually attend:

High:

Plymouth Regional High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.3%

Hispanic:

3.5%

Two or more races:

2.9%

See top rated New Hampshire elementary schools

Compare Thornton Central School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 55th percentile in 2016 → 80th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranks in the top 20% of New Hampshire elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 25 percentile points since 2016

✓Small classes — about 7 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school49%

District avg49%

New Hampshire avg46%

Elementary school

46^th of 230

New Hampshire public elementary schools ?

Top 20%▲ up 25 pts since 2016

From top 45% (2016) to top 20% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of New Hampshire Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

73^rd of 138

New Hampshire public middle schools ?

Bottom 47%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From top 44% (2016) to bottom 47% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of New Hampshire Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

61^st of 166Thornton School District among New Hampshire districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	74.9	46 of 230	80.0%	★★★★☆
2025	72.3	47 of 224	79.0%	★★★★☆
2024	72.2	53 of 234	77.4%	★★★★☆
2023	76.1	46 of 237	80.6%	★★★★☆
2022	71.7	53 of 233	77.3%	★★★★☆
2021	79.8	30 of 211	85.8%	★★★★☆
2019	64.7	72 of 231	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	75.3	38 of 231	83.5%	★★★★☆
2017	67.5	70 of 229	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	56.2	109 of 244	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2015	63.2	71 of 206	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	74.0	41 of 242	83.1%	★★★★☆
2013	74.4	46 of 241	80.9%	★★★★☆
2012	69.4	64 of 241	73.4%	★★★★☆
2011	67.9	77 of 237	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	58.2	110 of 242	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	52.3	127 of 240	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2008	46.3	148 of 236	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2007	33.4	177 of 237	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	38.7	159 of 238	33.2%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2023	69.7	49 of 193	74.6%	★★★★☆
2022	87.1	15 of 187	92.0%	★★★★★
2021	92.5	9 of 160	94.4%	★★★★★
2019	48.4	102 of 192	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	77.8	26 of 190	86.3%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2024	69.6	53 of 193	72.5%	★★★★☆
2023	65.4	61 of 199	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	76.4	33 of 194	83.0%	★★★★☆
2018	65.0	63 of 195	67.7%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	73.9	46 of 229	79.9%	★★★★☆
2025	69.1	56 of 223	74.9%	★★★★☆
2024	71.8	49 of 228	78.5%	★★★★☆
2023	75.0	47 of 233	79.8%	★★★★☆
2022	70.8	54 of 229	76.4%	★★★★☆
2021	79.1	31 of 209	85.2%	★★★★☆
2019	66.6	67 of 229	70.7%	★★★★☆
2018	75.9	34 of 227	85.0%	★★★★☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	45.4	73 of 138	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	67.1	39 of 132	70.5%	★★★★☆
2024	85.2	17 of 130	86.9%	★★★★☆
2023	91.7	9 of 134	93.3%	★★★★★
2022	84.4	13 of 130	90.0%	★★★★★
2021	69.9	28 of 125	77.6%	★★★★☆
2019	75.9	24 of 128	81.3%	★★★★☆
2018	85.0	13 of 131	90.1%	★★★★★
2017	67.7	37 of 125	70.4%	★★★★☆
2016	56.7	59 of 134	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2015	57.1	45 of 107	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	89.2	6 of 132	95.5%	★★★★★
2013	77.2	22 of 131	83.2%	★★★★☆
2012	79.1	18 of 131	86.3%	★★★★☆
2011	67.3	38 of 128	70.3%	★★★★☆
2010	70.4	32 of 127	74.8%	★★★★☆
2009	83.4	15 of 127	88.2%	★★★★☆
2008	62.4	46 of 129	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2007	43.9	73 of 125	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2006	35.8	85 of 126	32.5%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2025	70.5	27 of 112	75.9%	★★★★☆
2023	89.5	7 of 114	93.9%	★★★★★
2022	71.6	24 of 115	79.1%	★★★★☆
2021	72.8	20 of 113	82.3%	★★★★☆
2019	85.7	11 of 114	90.4%	★★★★★
2018	80.2	16 of 116	86.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	44.4	68 of 121	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	59.5	39 of 116	66.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	47.0	55 of 116	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.6	24 of 113	78.8%	★★★★☆
2018	77.1	17 of 114	85.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Hampshire percentile	Rating
2026	44.0	75 of 136	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	67.6	34 of 131	74.0%	★★★★☆
2024	85.1	16 of 128	87.5%	★★★★☆
2023	91.1	8 of 132	93.9%	★★★★★
2022	85.5	14 of 129	89.1%	★★★★☆
2021	69.9	28 of 123	77.2%	★★★★☆
2019	76.6	24 of 126	81.0%	★★★★☆
2018	83.5	15 of 129	88.4%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

White (2026)80th percentile~ school

Female (2023)75th percentile-6 vs school

Male (2024)73rd percentile-5 vs school

Middle school

Female (2025)76th percentile+5 vs school

White (2026)45th percentile~ school

Male (2026)44th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs New Hampshire (2025-2026) ?

Reading62%+7 vs state

Mathematics46%~ state avg

Science40%~ state avg

5.0

2 ratings

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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Schools Near Thornton Central School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NH SAS Mathematics (2026)							NH SAS Reading (2026)							NH SAS Science (2026)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NH SAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 4th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 5th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 6th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 7th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics 8th Grade	NH SAS Mathematics All Grades	NH SAS Reading 3rd Grade	NH SAS Reading 4th Grade	NH SAS Reading 5th Grade	NH SAS Reading 6th Grade	NH SAS Reading 7th Grade	NH SAS Reading 8th Grade	NH SAS Reading All Grades	NH SAS Science 5th Grade	NH SAS Science 8th Grade	NH SAS Science All Grades	Total
Thornton Central School	Public	K-8	1886 NH Rte. 175	Thornton	03285	Grafton County	Thornton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 726-8904	172	24	7.1	22.7%	157 (91.3%)	2 (1.2%)	6 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.9%)	74.9	46^th of 230 public elementary schools	80.0%		72.3	47^th of 224 public elementary schools	79.0%	1	59.0	69.0	44.0	43.0	43.0	25.0	46.0	68.0	69.0	78.0	79.0	54.0	42.0	62.0	50.0	33.0	40.0	$19,780
Campton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	1110 NH Rte. 175	Campton	03223	Grafton County	Campton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 726-3931	265	30	8.8	30.2%	242 (91.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.5%)	5 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.3%)	62.4	77^th of 230 public elementary schools	66.5%		68.7	60^th of 224 public elementary schools	73.2%	17	48.0	58.0	45.0	69.0	67.0	57.0	57.0	45.0	54.0	77.0	62.0	70.0	67.0	63.0	45.0	50.0	48.0	$20,857
Waterville Valley Elementary School	Public	K-8	1 Noon Peak Rd.	Waterville Valley	03215	Grafton County	Waterville Valley School District	No	No	No	No	(603) 236-4700	33	5	6.6	9.1%	29 (87.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.0%)	3 (9.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							85.0							90.0				$46,875
Plymouth Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	43 Old Ward Bridge Rd	Plymouth	03264	Grafton County	Plymouth School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 536-1152	365	42	8.7	33.2%	325 (89.0%)	4 (1.1%)	14 (3.8%)	10 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.3%)	59.5	89^th of 230 public elementary schools	61.3%		69.8	53^rd of 224 public elementary schools	76.3%	36	43.0	61.0	54.0	38.0	64.0	57.0	52.0	57.0	67.0	65.0	56.0	72.0	54.0	62.0	41.0	38.0	39.0
Russell Elementary School	Public	K-8	195 School St.	Rumney	03266	Grafton County	Rumney School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 786-9591	84	14	6.0	40.5%	83 (98.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.2%)								(n/a)						18.0	39.0						45.0	43.0		27.0	26.0	$29,816
Mountain Village Charter School	Public, Charter	1-8	13 NH Route 25	Plymouth	03264	Grafton County	Mountain Village Charter School	Yes	No	No	No	(603) 536-3900	117	7	16.7	13.7%	113 (96.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.6%)	21.5	196^th of 230 public elementary schools	14.8%		45.4	128^th of 224 public elementary schools	42.9%	68	14.0	36.0	0.0	25.0	57.0		27.0	36.0	43.0	57.0	44.0	71.0		49.0	29.0		46.0
Lin-Wood Public School (Elem)	Public	K-5	54 Linwood Dr.	Lincoln	03251	Grafton County	Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 745-2214	101	15	6.5	36.6%	86 (85.1%)	2 (2.0%)	4 (4.0%)	6 (5.9%)	2 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)	49.8	118^th of 230 public elementary schools	48.7%		44.7	129^th of 224 public elementary schools	42.4%	11	47.0	50.0	41.0				46.0	40.0	47.0	65.0				51.0	59.0		59.0
Holderness Central School	Public	K-8	19 School Rd	Holderness	03245	Grafton County	Holderness School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 536-2538	156	19	8.0	17.9%	142 (91.0%)	1 (0.6%)	3 (1.9%)	4 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.8%)	67.2	59^th of 230 public elementary schools	74.3%		76.5	37^th of 224 public elementary schools	83.5%	22	43.0	60.0	41.0		624.0	71.0	61.0	57.0	80.0	73.0		100.0	71.0	77.0	57.0	77.0	65.0	$26,488
Warren Village School	Public	PK, KG-8	11 School St	Warren	03279	Grafton County	Warren School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 764-5538	56	9	6.5	39.3%	55 (98.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)							47.0							72.0			69.0	$21,154
Wentworth Elementary School	Public	K-8	1247 Mt. Moosilauke Hwy.	Wentworth	03282	Grafton County	Wentworth School District	No	No	No	Yes	(603) 764-5811	78	7	11.1	37.2%	76 (97.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)					53.0		59.0					53.0		65.0			47.0	$25,312

Frequently Asked Questions about Thornton Central School

What district is Thornton Central School in?

Thornton School District

What is the racial makeup of Thornton Central School?

Students at Thornton Central School are 91% White, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% American Indian.

Is Thornton Central School a good school?

Thornton Central School ranks 46^th of 230 New Hampshire elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Thornton Central School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 172 students attended Thornton Central School.

What schools do graduates of Thornton Central School attend?

Students who attend Thornton Central School usually go on to attend:

High : Plymouth Regional High School

Rate Thornton Central School!

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Latest New Hampshire data All new data »

2025–26 NH SAS & SAT test scoresSep 7, 2026

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 12, 2025

2024–25 NH SAS & SAT test scoresSep 6, 2025

2015–16 through 2023–24 dropout rates & graduation ratesJul 30, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Hampshire Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.