- Enrollment
- 826
- Students per teacher
- 11:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Johnston, RI
Thornton School
Federal NCES profile for Thornton School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 440054000131
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thornton School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 79% of Rhode Island schools.
- #5 of 5
- elementary schools in Johnston · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 11.3:1
- small classes for Rhode Island
- 49.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Thornton School has class sizes smaller than 79% of Rhode Island schools. Computed live against every Rhode Island school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thornton School ranks #5 of 5 elementary schools in Johnston, RI.
School address
District: Johnston · Rhode Island
NCES ID 440054000131 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+11 students YoY
Thornton School held near 346 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+11 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 30.9 → 30.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+11 students YoY 440054000131 · Johnston, RI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
340 enr · 11.3:1 · 49.3% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Johnston Senior High (826 students)
Thornton School held near 346 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+11 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 30.9 → 30.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Rhode Island schools → · Find another →
Thornton School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Johnston Senio
Johnston Senior High
826 students
- Nicholas a. Fe
Nicholas a. Ferri Middle
720 students
- Winsor Hill Sc
Winsor Hill School
380 students
- This school
Thornton School
340 students
- Sarah Dyer Bar 266
Sarah Dyer Barnes School
266 students
- Brown Avenue S 251
Brown Avenue School
251 students
What this shows Thornton School reports 340 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thornton School compares
Thornton School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Rhode Island and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Rhode Island | Rhode Island avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.3:1 | ▼ 18% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 49.3% | ▲ 24% | 39.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 340 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
340
Bigger than 38% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
49.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Rhode Island average of 39.6%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 21% in Rhode Island - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
41.2%
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
$20,505
per pupil, district-wide
- below Rhode Island avg of $21,508
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 46.2%
White 37.9%
African American 8.8%
Asian 4.1%
Two or More 2.9%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 46.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.3, Thornton School is more mixed than the Rhode Island school average of 47.0.
Programs
District finance for Johnston reports $20,505 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thornton School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Nicholas a. Ferri Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Winsor Hill School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sarah Dyer Barnes School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Brown Avenue School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thornton School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 720
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 380
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 266
- Students per teacher
- 10.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 251
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar elementary schools in Johnston
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Winsor Hill School
Standard public school
380 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Sarah Dyer Barnes School
Standard public school
266 students 10.2:1 students per teacher
Brown Avenue School
Standard public school
251 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Early Childhood Center
Standard public school
201 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~340 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thornton School
How many students attend Thornton School?
Thornton School has 340 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Johnston, RI. CCD year-over-year: 335 (2022-23) → 346 (2023-24), nearly flat (+11).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thornton School?
The student-teacher ratio at Thornton School is 11.3:1, which is 18% lower than the Rhode Island average of 13.8:1 and 28% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Thornton School?
49.3% of students at Thornton School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Rhode Island average of 39.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thornton School?
The largest demographic group at Thornton School is Hispanic or Latino at 46.2% of enrollment, in Johnston, RI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thornton School?
Thornton School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Thornton School rank among elementary schools in Johnston?
By Resource Investment Index, Thornton School ranks #5 of 5 elementary schools in Johnston, RI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Johnston on the city page.
What other schools are in Johnston?
Besides Thornton School, Johnston also operates Johnston Senior High (826 students), Nicholas a. Ferri Middle (720 students), and Winsor Hill School (380 students). See the Johnston district page for the complete list.