Thornton Academy United States Flag

A- 4.9 Recommended Maine, US

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Admission Office admissions@thorntonacademy.org

School Overview

Data & methodology

Evaluation method

Ranking Basis

Data Scale: FindingSchool leverages an extensive data set that exceeds that of similar rankings, ensuring accurate and relevant evaluations through well-defined weight distributions and scoring mechanisms.

Weight Distribution: We gathered feedback from thousands of families and consulted over 50 industry experts to create ranking weights tailored to the needs of Asian students.

Scoring Mechanism: Each of the 46 distinct data points is evaluated using unique mathematical models, scoring based on its position within the overall data distribution.

Basis for Ranking: Instead of absolute values, we focus on relative differences in data. There is no fixed score threshold for separating schools; instead, the “admission cutoff” is adjusted annually based on data trends, similar to college entrance exams.

Evaluation Mechanism

The school page currently displays an evaluation card that includes an overall rating and ratings across five key categories, totaling 46 data points. The five categories are: Geographic Community, Academic Strength, Matriculation Level, Extracurricular Activities, and FindingSchool Reviews. Visitors can easily view the overall score and ratings for each dimension (ranging from A+ to C). For boarding schools, detailed total score rankings are also included

The data used for evaluations and rankings comes from three primary sources: official school data, public data, and user-submitted data on FindingSchool.

Scoring Mechanism

The entire scoring system is based on mathematical models derived from statistical analysis of samples from hundreds of schools across various levels. Each data point receives a corresponding rating based on its percentile position within the overall predicted distribution.

  • In the boarding school evaluation:: A- and above account for 45% of the total, B- and above account for 40%, C accounts for 15%.

  • In the day school evaluation: A- and above account for 30% of the total, B- and above account for 51%, C and others account for 19%.

2025 Evaluation Methodology

1. [30% - Matriculation Dimension]: Ivy League admission rate, admission rate for Top 25 National Universities and Top 5 Liberal Arts Colleges, admission rate for Top 50 National Universities and Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges, admission rate for Top 100 National Universities and Top 25 Liberal Arts Colleges, along with a summary of historical admissions data.

2. [24% - Academic Dimension]: Course offerings (AP, IB, Honors, and Advanced courses), percentage of teachers with a master’s degree or higher, percentage of AP exam scores of 3, 4, or 5, average scores on standardized tests (SAT and ACT), scores in AMC math competitions, and results in FRC robotics competitions.

3. [14% - Extracurricular Activities]: Alumni donation rate, number of clubs and activities, ratings for competitive sports teams, and ratings for arts programs.

4. [12% - FindingSchool Reviews]: FindingSchool website rating, review comments on FindingSchool, and historical rating trends.

5. [8% - Geographic Community]: State resource evaluation, density score of nearby top universities, distance to the nearest international airport, convenience of local amenities, transportation convenience, city crime rate, and educational level of the local population.

Overall
A-
Matriculation B
Academics A
Extracurriculars A+
Community B+
Reviews A
26 AP courses Strong Arts Program Walk to city center #1 safest state Excellent Dorms 200+ courses
Thornton Academy is a co-educational, private boarding and day school serving grades 6–12. Located on Maine's southern coast, in the city of Saco, we are one of the nation's longest-operating independent schools.

Thornton Academy's commitment to excellence enables students to reach their full potential and flourish in a changing world. We offer a safe and secure family environment where every student can find his or her place. Here, students are free to express their own individual ideas, cultures, and dreams, and all students benefit from our unique campus environment and its global perspective.
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Thornton Academy With Reviews, Requirements 2024 | FindingSchool

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School Stats

Average
Current School
Tuition
$52300
Enrollment
1462
International Students
11%
Faculty with Advanced Degrees
87%
Teacher-Student Ratio
1:11
Endowment
$23.5 millions
AP
26
Average SAT Score
1285
Average ACT Score
28
Class Size
12
Boarding %
12

Matriculation

(2023)
Ranking University/College Students
#1 Princeton University 1 +
#2 Columbia University 1 +
#2 Harvard College 1 +
#2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1 +
#5 Yale University 1 +
#9 Duke University 1 +
#9 Johns Hopkins University 1 +
#9 Northwestern University 1 +
LAC #2 Amherst College 1 +
#13 Dartmouth College 1 +
#14 Brown University 1 +
#14 Vanderbilt University 1 +
#17 Cornell University 1 +
#21 Emory University 1 +
#23 Georgetown University 1 +
#23 University of Michigan 1 +
LAC #5 Wellesley College 1 +
#27 University of Southern California 1 +
#28 New York University 1 +
#28 Tufts University 1 +
LAC #6 Bowdoin College 1 +
#34 University of Rochester 1 +
#36 Boston College 1 +
#38 Georgia Institute of Technology 1 +
#40 College of William and Mary 1 +
#42 Boston University 1 +
#42 Brandeis University 1 +
#42 Tulane University 1 +
#42 University of Wisconsin-Madison 1 +
#49 Pepperdine University 1 +
#49 Purdue University 1 +
#55 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1 +
#63 George Washington University 1 +
#68 Texas A&M University 1 +
#79 American University 1 +
LAC #17 Colby College 1 +
LAC #17 Smith College 1 +
LAC #25 Bates College 1 +
#136 Simmons University 1 +
#151 James Madison University 1 +
LAC #38 Bucknell University 1 +
LAC #38 Skidmore College 1 +
Bentley University 1 +
Berklee College of Music 1 +
Bryant University 1 +
California State Polytechnic University: Pomona 1 +
Maine Maritime Academy 1 +
Marist College 1 +
McGill University 1 +
parsons school of design 1 +
Savannah College of Art and Design 1 +
The Citadel 1 +
University of British Columbia 1 +
University of Cambridge 1 +
View all
Matriculation
Ranking University/College 2023 2020-2022 2021 2015-2020 2019 Total
All schools 34 35 92 34 53
#1 Princeton University 1 + 1 +admitted 2
#2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 4
#3 Harvard College 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 3
#5 Yale University 1 + 1
#7 Duke University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#7 California Institute of Technology 1 +admitted 1
#9 Brown University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#9 Johns Hopkins University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#9 Northwestern University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#12 University of Chicago 1 +admitted 1
#12 Cornell University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#12 Columbia University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 4
#15 University of California: Berkeley 1 +admitted 1
#15 University of California: Los Angeles 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 4
#18 Dartmouth College 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#18 Vanderbilt University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#21 University of Michigan 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#22 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1 +admitted 1
#22 Georgetown University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#24 Emory University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#28 University of Southern California 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#28 University of California: San Diego 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#28 University of California: Davis 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#33 Georgia Institute of Technology 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#33 University of California: Irvine 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#35 New York University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#35 University of California: Santa Barbara 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#35 University of Wisconsin-Madison 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#39 Boston College 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#40 Rutgers University 1 +admitted 1
#40 University of Washington 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#40 Tufts University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 4
#43 Boston University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#47 Lehigh University 1 +admitted 1
#47 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 1 +admitted 1
#47 University of Rochester 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#47 Texas A&M University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#49 Purdue University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#53 University of Minnesota: Twin Cities 1 +admitted 1
#53 Case Western Reserve University 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#53 College of William and Mary 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#53 Northeastern University 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#53 Florida State University 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#58 University of Connecticut 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#58 SUNY University at Stony Brook 1 +admitted 1
#60 Brandeis University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#60 Michigan State University 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#60 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#67 George Washington University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#67 Syracuse University 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#67 University of Massachusetts Amherst 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#67 University of Pittsburgh 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#73 Indiana University Bloomington 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#73 Tulane University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 4
#73 SUNY University at Binghamton 1 +admitted 1
#76 University of Delaware 1 +admitted 1
#76 Pepperdine University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#82 Worcester Polytechnic Institute 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#82 University of Illinois at Chicago 1 +admitted 1
#85 University of California: Riverside 1 +admitted 1
#86 Clemson University 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#86 Marquette University 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#89 University of South Florida 1 +admitted 1
#89 Temple University 1 +admitted 1
#89 Fordham University 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#89 Southern Methodist University 1 +admitted 1
#93 University of Iowa 1 +admitted 1
#93 Baylor University 1 +admitted 1
#93 Auburn University 1 +admitted 1
#93 Loyola Marymount University 1 + 1
#98 Rochester Institute of Technology 1 +admitted 1
#98 University of Oregon 1 +admitted 1
#98 Illinois Institute of Technology 1 +admitted 1
#98 Drexel University 1 +admitted 1
#98 University of San Diego 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#105 Arizona State University 1 +admitted 1
#105 American University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#105 Saint Louis University 1 +admitted 1
#105 University of Colorado Boulder 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#115 University of New Hampshire 1 +admitted 1
#124 James Madison University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 4
#124 University of Denver 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#133 University of Vermont 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#133 Elon University 1 +admitted 1
#133 Chapman University 1 + 1
#133 Miami University: Oxford 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#142 Clarkson University 1 +admitted 1
#142 Thomas Jefferson University: East Falls 1 +admitted 1
#142 Clark University 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#142 Loyola University Chicago 1 +admitted 1
#151 Simmons University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 4
#151 University of Rhode Island 1 +admitted 1
#151 Colorado State University 1 +admitted 1
#151 DePaul University 1 +admitted 1
#163 St. John's University 1 +admitted 1
#163 Adelphi University 1 +admitted 1
#170 Quinnipiac University 1 +admitted 1
#178 Washington State University 1 +admitted 1
#178 Drake University 1 +admitted 1
#185 Hofstra University 1 +admitted 1
#185 University of Idaho 1 +admitted 1
#185 California State University: Fresno 1 +admitted 1
#216 University of Massachusetts Boston 1 +admitted 1
#249 Pace University 1 +admitted 1
#249 University of Maine 1 +admitted 1
#249 Suffolk University 1 +admitted 1
#260 University of New England 1 +admitted 1
#269 Florida Institute of Technology 1 +admitted 1
#269 Utah State University 1 +admitted 1
#304 University of Hartford 1 +admitted 1
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
Ohio State University: Columbus Campus 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
University of California: Santa Cruz 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
Penn State University Park 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
University of Maryland: College Park 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
Matriculation
Ranking University/College 2023 2020-2022 2021 2015-2020 2019 Total
All schools 8 8 22 13 11
#2 Amherst College 1 + 1 +admitted 2
#3 United States Naval Academy 1 +admitted 1
#4 Pomona College 1 +admitted 1
#4 Wellesley College 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#9 Carleton College 1 +admitted 1
#9 Bowdoin College 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#16 Vassar College 1 + 1
#16 Smith College 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#21 Haverford College 1 +admitted 1
#21 Colgate University 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 3
#24 Bates College 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#25 Colby College 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 5
#27 College of the Holy Cross 1 + 1
#30 Bucknell University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 3
#34 Mount Holyoke College 1 +admitted 1
#35 Franklin & Marshall College 1 + 1 +admitted 2
#36 Oberlin College 1 + 1
#38 Skidmore College 1 + 1 +admitted 1 + 1 +admitted 4
#39 Trinity College 1 +admitted 1
#45 Union College 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#46 Connecticut College 1 +admitted 1
#46 Dickinson College 1 +admitted 1
#46 Furman University 1 +admitted 1
#56 Rhodes College 1 +admitted 1
#63 Gettysburg College 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 2
#72 Bard College 1 +admitted 1
#75 Knox College 1 +admitted 1
#75 Wheaton College-Norton-MA 1 +admitted 1
#86 Ursinus College 1 +admitted 1
#86 Stonehill College 1 +admitted 1
#86 Beloit College 1 +admitted 1
#100 Sarah Lawrence College 1 + 1
#107 Susquehanna University 1 +admitted 1
#139 Hampshire College 1 +admitted 1
#152 Emmanuel College-Boston-MA 1 +admitted 1
#156 College of the Atlantic 1 +admitted 1
United States Military Academy 1 +admitted 1
Matriculation
Ranking University/College 2023 2020-2022 2021 2015-2020 2019 Total
All schools 2 2 5 0 0
#1 University of Toronto 1 +admitted 1
#2 University of British Columbia 1 + 1 +admitted 2
#3 McGill University 1 + 1 +admitted 1 +admitted 3
#5 University of Alberta 1 +admitted 1
#12 Dalhousie University 1 +admitted 1
#17 York University 1 +admitted 1
Matriculation
Ranking University/College 2023 2020-2022 2021 2015-2020 2019 Total
All schools 1 0 0 0 0
#2 University of Cambridge 1 + 1

AP Scores

(2022-2023)
Number of students took AP test
256
Number of tests taken
451
41%
24%
32%
Score 5
Score 4
Score 3
Other scores

Academics

AP

(26)
Biology
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Chemistry
Chinese Language and Culture
European History
Biology
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Chemistry
Chinese Language and Culture
European History
Latin
English Literature and Composition
Music Theory
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
Statistics
United States History
Computer Science A
French Language and Culture
Macroeconomics
Microeconomics
Spanish Language and Culture
United States Government and Politics
English Language and Composition
Physics 1
Psychology
Physics 2
Computer Science Principles
Human Geography
Environmental Science
Studio Art: 2-D Design
View all

Sports

(16)
Baseball
Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross Country
Field Hockey
American Football
Baseball
Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross Country
Field Hockey
American Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Wrestling
View all

Extracurricular Activities and Clubs

(46)
ANGLERS SOCIETY
CYCLING CLUB
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CLUB
SKI CLUB
ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
ANGLERS SOCIETY
CYCLING CLUB
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CLUB
SKI CLUB
ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP
BLACK STUDENT UNION
CIVIL RIGHTS TEAM
COMMUNITY LEADERS CLUB
GAY STRAIGHT TRANSGENDER ALLIANCE
SEXUALITY AND GENDER EQUALITY
TED CLUB
UNIFIED CLUB
STUDENT COUNCIL
TA TOUR GUIDES
ACTION TEAM
AMBASSADOR CLUB
INTERACT CLUB
RIBBON CLUB
ROBOTICS CLUB
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
MATH TEAM
NEUROSCIENCE CLUB
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
MODEL UNITED NATIONS
NATIONAL HISTORY DAY
SPEECH TEAM
DEBATE TEAM
INK
CLASSICS CLUB
FRENCH CLUB
GERMAN CLUB
CHINESE CLUB
ARABIC CLUB
SPANISH CLUB
TABLE TOP GAMERS CLUB
ANIME CLUB
CHESS CLUB
VISUAL ARTS CLUB
TAP & HIP HOP DANCE CLUB
TATV CLUB
TA PLAYERS
TECHNICAL THEATER CREW
STUDENT MARKETING TEAM
TRIPOD YEARBOOK
View all

Arts

(23)
Acting
Chamber Choir
Choir
Choreography
Dance
Jazz
Acting
Chamber Choir
Choir
Choreography
Dance
Jazz
Music Theory
Performing
Piano
Songwriting
Stagecraft
String
Wind Symphony
Ceramics
Digital Art
Digital Photography
Drawing
Film
Film Production
Painting
Sculpture
Design
Digital Design
View all

Contact Thornton Academy


Admissions Officer
1.
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2.
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School Link

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Thornton Academy is a member of SAO (The Standard Application Online) platform. Click the button below to apply.

Basic Info

Co-ed
Boarding Grades: 6-12
Rural
ESL: Yes
Year Founded: 1811
Campus Size: 80 acres
Boarding Rate: 12%
Religious Affiliation: No Religious Affiliation

Application Info

Deadline: Rolling
Interview: Skype, On Campus, Admission Travel to China, Others, WeChat
Other Accepted Scores: TOEFL, TOEFL Junior, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, IELTS, ELTIS
School Code:
TOEFL: 1000
SSAT: 7665

Frequently Ask Questions about Thornton Academy

Tell me a bit about Thornton Academy.
Thornton Academy is Co-ed private boarding school located in Maine, US. It was founded 1811 , and currently has about 1462 students, 11.00% of whom are international students.

For more official information, please visit http://www.thorntonacademy.org.
Does Thornton Academy have rigorous academic requirements?
Thornton Academy is offering 26 AP courses.

In recent years, 24 of their students score 4 and 5 in AP exams.

Thornton Academy also have 87% of faculties whose degrees are master and above.
Where do Thornton Academy students typically go for their colleges?
In 2023, some students attended Princeton University, Columbia University, Harvard College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Yale University.
What is the application requirement for Thornton Academy?
Similar to most private schools in the US, Thornton Academy’s typical admission requirements include school transcript, recommendation letter, application essay, and interview (often optional, but highly recommended).
What is the latest tuition for Thornton Academy’s Co-ed student?
The total fee for Thornton Academy in 2024 is $52,300 which typically includes tuition, boarding fee, student management fee and a few other fees associated with managing international students.

For more information, please contact school’s admission team at admissions@thorntonacademy.org .
Where is Thornton Academy located?
Thornton Academy is located in the State of Maine of USA.
How popular is Thornton Academy on FindingSchool network?
Based on FindingSchool monthly traffic data as well as onsite search record, Thornton Academy is among the most popular schools, within top 144 for all schools on FindingSchool.

Also Thornton Academy has been favorited by 171 users.
How to start with an application with Thornton Academy?
The first stop is to carefully review the school profile on FindingSchool to learn more about Thornton Academy. Most of them are directly provided by the school.

Also it is highly recommended to visit Thornton Academy’s official site: http://www.thorntonacademy.org or call them at 207-282-5383.
Please share a few nearby schools that are close to Thornton Academy?
What is the FindingSchool rating for Thornton Academy?
The overall rating for Thornton Academy is A-.

The section ratings of Thornton Academy are:
B for Matriculation
A for Academics
A+ for Extracurriculum
B+ for Community
A for Students and Parents reviews

Nearby City

Boston, the capital and largest city of Massachusetts, is the cultural and financial heart of New England. With a rich history dating back to the American Revolution, it is home to iconic landmarks such as the Freedom Trail, the Boston Common, and the Massachusetts State House. The city boasts prestigious universities like Harvard and MIT and is known for its vibrant arts scene, diverse neighborhoods, and thriving economy. Boston's blend of historical significance and modern innovation makes it one of the most influential cities in the U.S.

Population (2022) 609,023
Cost of Living Higher than average 54%

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