- Enrollment
- 2,052
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Thornton, CO
Thornton High School
Federal NCES profile for Thornton High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 080690001192
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 59
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thornton High School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of Colorado schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Colorado.
- #4 of 6
- high schools in Thornton · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.4:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 58.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Thornton High School has class sizes larger than 82% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thornton High School ranks #4 of 6 high schools in Thornton, CO.
School address
District: Adams 12 Five Star Schools · Colorado
NCES ID 080690001192 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+4 students YoY
Thornton High School held near 1,416 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 74.5 → 83.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+4 students YoY 080690001192 · Thornton, CO High · MID · TRAD
1,439 enr · 19.4:1 · 58.3% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Legacy High School (2,052 students)
Thornton High School held near 1,416 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount). Teacher FTE added 74.5 → 83.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Thornton High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Legacy High Sc
Legacy High School
2,052 students
- Horizon High S
Horizon High School
1,966 students
- Northglenn Hig
Northglenn High School
1,844 students
- Mountain Range
Mountain Range High School
1,788 students
- Stargate Chart
Stargate Charter School
1,572 students
- This school
Thornton High School
1,439 students
What this shows Thornton High School reports 1,439 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thornton High School compares
Thornton High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.4:1 | ▲ 17% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.3% | ▲ 51% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,439 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.4:1
Leaner classes than 18% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,439
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
58.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% above the Colorado average of 38.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.4:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 82% in Colorado - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
66.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,748
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $17,910
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 206 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
44
in-school suspensions + 170 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 71.5%
White 15.2%
Asian 9.7%
Two or More 1.6%
African American 1.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 71.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.6, Thornton High School is about as mixed as the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 5
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Adams 12 Five Star Schools reports $14,748 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thornton High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Horizon High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northglenn High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mountain Range High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stargate Charter School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thornton High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,966
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,844
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 1,788
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,572
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,439 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thornton High School
How many students attend Thornton High School?
Thornton High School has 1,439 students enrolled. It is a high school in Thornton, CO. CCD year-over-year: 1,412 (2022-23) → 1,416 (2023-24), nearly flat (+4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thornton High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Thornton High School is 19.4:1, which is 17% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 24% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Thornton High School?
58.3% of students at Thornton High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thornton High School?
The largest demographic group at Thornton High School is Hispanic or Latino at 71.5% of enrollment, in Thornton, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thornton High School?
Thornton High School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Thornton High School rank among high schools in Thornton?
By Resource Investment Index, Thornton High School ranks #4 of 6 high schools in Thornton, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Thornton on the city page.
What other schools are in Adams 12 Five Star Schools?
Besides Thornton High School, Adams 12 Five Star Schools also operates Legacy High School (2,052 students), Horizon High School (1,966 students), and Northglenn High School (1,844 students). See the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district page for the complete list.