- Enrollment
- 2,052
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Thornton, CO
Thornton Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Thornton Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 080690001183
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 28
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thornton Middle School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median.
- #4 of 5
- middle schools in Thornton · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.2:1
- students per teacher
- 73.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Thornton Middle School has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thornton Middle School ranks #4 of 5 middle schools in Thornton, CO.
School address
District: Adams 12 Five Star Schools · Colorado
NCES ID 080690001183 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-13 students YoY
Thornton Middle School held near 719 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 42.5 → 43.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-13 students YoY 080690001183 · Thornton, CO Middle · MID · TRAD
721 enr · 17.2:1 · 73.0% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Legacy High School (2,052 students)
Thornton Middle School held near 719 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount). Teacher FTE added 42.5 → 43.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Thornton Middle 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 721
Thornton Middle School
721 students
What this shows Thornton Middle School reports 721 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thornton Middle School compares
Thornton Middle 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 | 17.2:1 | ▲ 4% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.0% | ▲ 90% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 721 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.2:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
721
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
73.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 90% above the Colorado average of 38.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.2:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 65% in Colorado - lower ratio than 35% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
73.0%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 361 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
82
in-school suspensions + 252 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 46.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 6 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 77.4%
White 10.7%
Asian 7.2%
African American 3.2%
Two or More 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 77.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 38.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 38.3, Thornton Middle School is less mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
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 Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Horizon High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northglenn High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mountain Range High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stargate Charter School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thornton Middle 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 middle 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 (~721 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thornton Middle School
How many students attend Thornton Middle School?
Thornton Middle School has 721 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Thornton, CO. CCD year-over-year: 732 (2022-23) → 719 (2023-24), nearly flat (-13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thornton Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Thornton Middle School is 17.2:1, which is 4% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Thornton Middle School?
73.0% of students at Thornton Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thornton Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Thornton Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 77.4% of enrollment, in Thornton, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thornton Middle School?
Thornton Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Middle School rank among middle schools in Thornton?
By Resource Investment Index, Thornton Middle School ranks #4 of 5 middle 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 middle schools in Thornton on the city page.
What other schools are in Adams 12 Five Star Schools?
Besides Thornton Middle 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.