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Thornton School

Q: Is Thornton School a good school?

Thornton School ranks 106 th of 163 Rhode Island elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 1-5

106^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 163 Rhode Island Elementary Schools

Better than 35% of Rhode Island elementary schools

Summary

Thornton School is an elementary school in Johnston, Rhode Island, serving 340 students in grades 1–5. SchoolDigger ranks it 106th of 163 statewide, at the 35th percentile and with 2 stars. In 2025–26, 24% of students were proficient in English language arts (ELA), 30% in math and 28% in science. The most important takeaway is that Thornton ranks third among 11 nearby schools in all three subjects, yet remains below the state in each.

Compared with nearby schools, Thornton’s results are above average: the group averages are 19% in ELA and 19% in math, and Thornton ranks third in both subjects and science. It is ahead of eight of the 10 nearby schools in each subject; only Stone Hill School and Stadium School score higher in all three. Still, Thornton trails the state by 9 percentage points in ELA, 2 in math and 4 in science. Compared with Johnston, Thornton is 3 points lower in ELA but 10 points higher in math and 11 points higher in science. Third-grade results are a bright spot, while fourth-grade ELA is a relative weakness: 15% of fourth-graders were proficient, compared with 32% statewide.

Math has improved steadily, rising from 19% proficiency in 2022–23 to 30% in 2025–26, while ELA fell from 33% to 24%; science was roughly flat, moving from 27% to 28%. Thornton’s student–teacher ratio was 10.9, the lowest among the 11 nearby schools, and its free/reduced-lunch rate was 69%, below the group average of 76%. These figures provide context but do not explain test results. SchoolDigger’s student-group rankings show notable differences: its effectiveness ranking for African American students was at the 93rd percentile (3rd of 43), while its ranking for students receiving special education services was at the 15th percentile, down 31 percentile points from the prior year.

340

Students ?

10.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

68.8%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

4 School Street
Johnston, RI 02919

(401) 943-7369

District: Johnston

Students who attend Thornton School usually attend:

Middle:	Nicholas A. Ferri Middle
High:	Johnston Senior High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

46.2%

White:

37.9%

African American:

8.8%

See top rated Rhode Island elementary schools

Compare Thornton School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 34th percentile in 2016 → 35th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Rhode Island average (27% vs 32% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school27%

District avg22%

Rhode Island avg32%

106^th of 163

Rhode Island public elementary schools ?

Bottom 35%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Rhode Island Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

42^nd of 61Johnston among Rhode Island districts

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

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2026	34.2	106 of 163	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.7	103 of 166	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.8	125 of 166	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.3	105 of 167	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	31.5	106 of 166	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.5	111 of 166	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	30.9	116 of 169	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.0	121 of 169	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	26.6	126 of 168	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	36.8	112 of 170	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	50.1	88 of 169	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	36.6	115 of 159	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	32.5	126 of 165	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	27.6	128 of 165	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	23.4	137 of 165	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	37.7	118 of 169	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2009	29.9	125 of 169	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2026	86.1	3 of 43	93.0%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2026	49.3	18 of 51	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	43.0	29 of 58	50.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2026	34.5	101 of 162	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	34.7	102 of 164	37.8%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2026	57.5	42 of 112	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.9	52 of 111	53.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2026	45.9	80 of 154	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	42.1	89 of 158	43.7%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2026	34.6	106 of 162	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.3	110 of 166	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2026	23.8	76 of 89	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	38.7	52 of 97	46.4%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Rhode Island percentile	Rating
2026	24.1	102 of 128	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.6	97 of 129	24.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)93rd percentile+58 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)65th percentile+30 vs school

Hispanic (2026)62nd percentile+28 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)48th percentile+13 vs school

Female (2026)38th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2026)35th percentile~ school

White (2026)20th percentile-15 vs school

Special Education (2026)15th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Rhode Island (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics30%~ state avg

Science28%-4 vs state

English Language Arts24%-9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Thornton 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NGSA Science (2026)		RICAS English Language Arts (2026)					RICAS Mathematics (2026)					Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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	NGSA Science 5th Grade	NGSA Science All Grades	RICAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	RICAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	RICAS English Language Arts All Grades	RICAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	RICAS Mathematics 4th Grade	RICAS Mathematics 5th Grade	RICAS Mathematics 6th Grade	RICAS Mathematics All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required vaccines	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Thornton School	Public	1-5	4 School Street	Johnston	02919	Providence County	Johnston	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 943-7369	340	31	10.9	68.8%	129 (37.9%)	30 (8.8%)	157 (46.2%)	14 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.9%)	34.2	106^th of 163 public elementary schools	35.0%		33.7	103^rd of 166 public elementary schools	38.0%	3	27.6	27.6	36.6	15.4	21.1		24.3	38.9	20.5	31.6		30.0			$17,857	$1,424	$16,433
Stone Hill School	Public	K-5	21 Village Avenue	Cranston	02920	Providence County	Cranston	No	(n/a)	No	No	(401) 270-8022	234	20	11.7	46.6%	127 (54.3%)	10 (4.3%)	61 (26.1%)	22 (9.4%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	12 (5.1%)	74.9	36^th of 163 public elementary schools	77.9%		70.1	50^th of 166 public elementary schools	69.9%	14	46.2	46.2	59.5	41.2	53.8		51.8	54.1	32.4	43.6		43.6	≥ 95%		$19,882	$1,193	$18,689
George J. Peters School	Public	K-5	15 Mayberry Street	Cranston	02920	Providence County	Cranston	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 270-8199	244	18	13.5	62.3%	104 (42.6%)	10 (4.1%)	94 (38.5%)	12 (4.9%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (9.0%)	23.4	123^rd of 163 public elementary schools	24.5%		26	125^th of 166 public elementary schools	24.7%	2	6.8	6.8	35.7	25.5	475.0		21.2	33.3	13.5	6.8		17.4	86%		$17,312	$1,140	$16,172
Arlington School	Public	PK, KG-5	155 Princess Avenue	Cranston	02920	Providence County	Cranston	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 270-8179	209	16	13.0	77.5%	32 (15.3%)	11 (5.3%)	128 (61.2%)	15 (7.2%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (10.5%)	17.3	136^th of 163 public elementary schools	16.6%		26.1	124^th of 166 public elementary schools	25.3%	12	22.2	22.2	13.6	26.1	16.7		19.0	13.6	17.4	5.6		12.7	≥ 95%		$23,391	$1,776	$21,615
Winsor Hill School	Public	1-5	100 Theresa Street	Johnston	02919	Providence County	Johnston	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 831-4619	380	32	11.8	60.5%	195 (51.3%)	35 (9.2%)	123 (32.4%)	14 (3.7%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (2.6%)	18.5	132^nd of 163 public elementary schools	19.0%		25.5	129^th of 166 public elementary schools	22.3%	3	21.4	21.4	15.5	17.2	23.7		19.4	12.7	11.1	16.3		13.8			$16,215	$1,655	$14,560
Gladstone Street School	Public	K-5	50 Gladstone Street	Cranston	02920	Providence County	Cranston	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 270-8080	402	35	11.4	88.6%	27 (6.7%)	24 (6.0%)	298 (74.1%)	28 (7.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	23 (5.7%)	13	151^st of 163 public elementary schools	7.4%		11.5	157^th of 166 public elementary schools	5.4%	6	15.9	15.9	17.1	12.9	9.0		13.1	19.7	8.5	15.9		14.8	≥ 95%		$17,629	$1,886	$15,743
Anthony Carnevale Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	50 Springfield Street	Providence	02909	Providence County	Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 278-0554	519	39	13.3	84.2%	38 (7.3%)	62 (11.9%)	374 (72.1%)	18 (3.5%)	4 (0.8%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (4.0%)	12.9	152^nd of 163 public elementary schools	6.7%		10.9	158^th of 166 public elementary schools	4.8%	6	8.2	8.2	18.6	9.5	470.0		10.4	18.1	17.9	475.0		14.0	92.2%		$23,806	$1,947	$21,859
Frank D. Spaziano Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	35 Merino Street	Providence	02909	Providence County	Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 456-9389	588	31	18.9	85.9%	36 (6.1%)	23 (3.9%)	507 (86.2%)	4 (0.7%)	9 (1.5%)	3 (0.5%)	6 (1.0%)	12.5	153^rd of 163 public elementary schools	6.1%		13.1	153^rd of 166 public elementary schools	7.8%		15.7	15.7	10.3	10.4	13.5	12.9	11.9	14.8	12.9	12.4	11.7	12.9	93.9%		$16,554	$1,069	$15,485
Mary E. Fogarty Elementary School	Public	K-5	85 Laurel Hill Ave	Providence	02909	Providence County	Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 456-9381	430	24	17.9	90.0%	33 (7.7%)	82 (19.1%)	275 (64.0%)	17 (4.0%)	7 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	15 (3.5%)	9.7	158^th of 163 public elementary schools	3.1%		15.7	148^th of 166 public elementary schools	10.8%	10	35.0	35.0	15.0	468.0	7.2		8.0	18.5	6.8	10.0		11.5	87.2%		$16,539	$2,193	$14,346
Webster Avenue School	Public	K-5	191 Webster Avenue	Providence	02909	Providence County	Providence	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(401) 456-9414	308	20	15.4	83.8%	24 (7.8%)	18 (5.8%)	253 (82.1%)	4 (1.3%)	2 (0.6%)	3 (1.0%)	4 (1.3%)	9.2	159^th of 163 public elementary schools	2.5%		9.2	162^nd of 166 public elementary schools	2.4%	3	9.3	9.3	16.3	11.1	9.1		12.2	9.8	11.1	470.0		8.1	≥ 95%		$15,801	$1,677	$14,124

Frequently Asked Questions about Thornton School

What district is Thornton School in?

Johnston

What schools do graduates of Thornton School attend?

Students who attend Thornton School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Nicholas A. Ferri Middle
High : Johnston Senior High

How many students attend Thornton School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 340 students attended Thornton School.

Is Thornton School a good school?

Thornton School ranks 106^th of 163 Rhode Island elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Thornton School?

Students at Thornton School are 46% Hispanic, 38% White, 9% African American, 4% Asian, 3% Two or more races.

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RIRhode Island Elementary School Rankings

RIRhode Island District Rankings

Schools in Johnston, RI

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Latest Rhode Island data All new data »

2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 20, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataOct 9, 2026

2016–17 through 2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesOct 9, 2026

2025–26 NGSA, PSAT10, RICAS & SAT test scoresOct 9, 2026

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