| Index | Thornton | California | National |
| Average Test Scores | 30% | 43% | 48% |
| Student/Teacher ratio | n/a | 20:1 | 16:1 |
| Total public schools | n/a | 8,308 | 79,221 |
| Total private schools | n/a | 3,438 | 24,874 |
| Total post-secondary schools | n/a | 1,085 | 7,963 |

| Index | Thornton | California | National |
| Completed 8th grade | 57.9% | 81.1% | 84.3% |
| Completed high school | 53.2% | 79.8% | 83.0% |
| Completed some college | 26.5% | 61.5% | 59.4% |
| Completed associate degree | 8.5% | 39.8% | 38.5% |
| Completed bachelors | 7.1% | 32.0% | 30.3% |
| Completed masters | 3.2% | 11.9% | 11.5% |
| Completed professional degree | 0.0% | 3.9% | 3.3% |
| Completed doctorate | 0.0% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
There are a total of n/a public schools, n/a private schools and n/a post-secondary schools in Thornton. Using the proficiency score averages, the average test scores for Thornton, CA schools is 30%. The average student to teacher ratio is n/a. In Thornton, CA, an average of 57.9% of students have completed 8th grade and an average of 53.2% have completed high school.
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Isleton, CA | 513 | 65% | 34.4% |
| Wilton, CA | 5,360 | 63% | 31.3% |
| Walnut Grove, CA | 1,321 | 55% | 13.5% |
| Elk Grove, CA | 178,848 | 53% | 11.1% |
| Herald, CA | 1,091 | 48% | = 100 |
| Thornton, CA | 936 | 30% | 38.5% |
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Unadilla, NY | 936 | 32% | 33.3% |
| Browerville, MN | 936 | 40% | 17.7% |
| Ganado, AZ | 936 | 17% | 65.6% |
| Cascade, ID | 935 | 43% | 11.5% |
| Winnebago, NE | 937 | 20% | 59.4% |
| Thornton, CA | 936 | 30% | 38.5% |