| Index | Thornton | Iowa | National |
| Average Test Scores | n/a | 69% | 48% |
| Student/Teacher ratio | n/a | 13:1 | 16:1 |
| Total public schools | n/a | 1,101 | 79,221 |
| Total private schools | n/a | 208 | 24,874 |
| Total post-secondary schools | n/a | 96 | 7,963 |

| Index | Thornton | Iowa | National |
| Completed 8th grade | 88.1% | 89.2% | 84.3% |
| Completed high school | 88.1% | 87.7% | 83.0% |
| Completed some college | 59.6% | 59.8% | 59.4% |
| Completed associate degree | 32.1% | 38.4% | 38.5% |
| Completed bachelors | 16.8% | 27.2% | 30.3% |
| Completed masters | 2.4% | 8.7% | 11.5% |
| Completed professional degree | 0.0% | 2.7% | 3.3% |
| Completed doctorate | 0.0% | 1.1% | 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, IA schools is n/a. The average student to teacher ratio is n/a. In Thornton, IA, an average of 88.1% of students have completed 8th grade and an average of 88.1% have completed high school.
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Garner, IA | 3,134 | 78% | 63.0% |
| Ventura, IA | 783 | 74% | 54.2% |
| Clear Lake, IA | 7,775 | 73% | 52.4% |
| Latimer, IA | 819 | 70% | 45.8% |
| Rockwell, IA | 890 | 67% | 39.6% |
| Thornton, IA | 486 | n/a |
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Glasco, KS | 486 | 38% | 21.9% |
| Richfield, ID | 486 | 42% | 12.5% |
| Melrose, WI | 486 | 42% | 13.5% |
| Courtland, CA | 486 | 45% | 7.3% |
| Leeds, ND | 486 | 53% | 9.4% |
| Thornton, IA | 486 | n/a |