Thornton Patriots Lead, Contribute, Excel

Our mission at Thornton Middle School is to create and maintain a warm, supportive learning environment where the Thornton Family

(parents/guardians, students, staff, and community) works collaboratively to provide our students a quality education.  By providing students a foundation of rigorous academic skills and

meaningful, relevant learning experiences, we will furnish them with the building blocks for a successful future.

In addition to meeting academic needs, our intent is to address the whole child by providing activities that enhance self-esteem, improve

interpersonal communication, build positive relationships, and promote self-responsibility.  The Patriot ideal, symbolizing a love for

our country, community, and school, also emphasizes self-respect and respect for others. As we learn from the past, focus on the

present, and march into the future, we envision our students as life-long learners, productive citizens, and preservers of our democracy.

Who are the students of Thornton?

Thornton has a student body of 1,317 students 6th grade- 442 7th grade- 452 8th grade- 423 Economically Disadvantaged- 951 LEP- 129

Thornton also has a very diverse student population African American- 357 Hispanic- 763 White- 131 Asian- 33 Pacific Islander- 2 Two or more races- 31

Students

AA HispanicWhite AsianPacific Islander

2 or more

2010-2011 Student Achievement Data Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills Test

Reading (all grades) Math (all grades)

1

75 80 85 90 95 100

Econ Disad-vantagedAsianWhiteHispanicAfrican AmericanAll students

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Econ Disad-vantagedAsianWhiteHispanicAfrican AmericanAll students

All students- 88%African American- 87%Hispanic- 87%White- 93%Asian- 99%Econ Disad- 86%

All students- 78%African American- 71%Hispanic- 80%White- 84%Asian- 97%Econ Disad- 76%

2010-2011 Student Achievement Data Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills Test

Writing (7th Grade)

1

88 90 92 94 96 98 100

Econ DisadvantagedAsianWhiteHispanicAfrican AmericanAll students

All students- 92%African American- 96%Hispanic- 97%White- 99%Asian- 99%Econ Disad- 96%

2010-2011 Student Achievement Data Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills Test

Science (8th Grade) Social Studies (8th Grade)

1

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90100

Econ Disad-vantagedAsianWhiteHispanicAfrican AmericanAll students

1

97.5 98 98.5 99

Econ Disad-vantagedAsianWhiteHispanicAfrican AmericanAll students

All students- 73%African American- 64%Hispanic- 72%White- 92%Asian- 75%Econ Disad- 68%

All students- 98%African American- 98%Hispanic- 98%White- 98%Asian- 99%Econ Disad- 98%

The staff is at Thornton Middle School second to none!

Professional Staff- 102.3 Higher Education Teachers- 84.6 Bachelors

Degree- 69% Professional Support- 14.7 Masters

Degree- 30% Campus Administration- 3.1 Doctorate- 1%

The staff also has the advantage of youth and experience, as well as ethnic diversity.

Teaching years of experience Ethnic Breakdown of Teachers Beginning Teachers- 3.9% African American- 19 1-5 Years of Experience- 39.5% Hispanic- 8.9 6-10 Years of Experience- 17.8% White- 55.7 11-20 Years of Experience- 14.1% Two or more races- 1.1 Over 20 Years of Experience- 9.4%

Teachers

WhiteAAHispanic2 or more

Special Programs

The students at Thornton Middle School work extremely hard at their academics, but they are

involved in so many other activities as well. There are countless opportunities for students,

both academic and extra-curricular.

Athletics

For 7th and 8th grade boys, they can play football, basketball, run track, or play soccer.

For 7th and 8th grade girls, they can play volleyball, basketball, run track, or play soccer.

Electives

Students at Thornton have many choices for elective classes. Some of the choices include band, choir, orchestra, family and

consumer sciences, tech, professional communications, keyboarding, art, and foreign language.

Clubs and Organizations

After school, students can participate in numerous clubs such as the math club, science club, or

recycling club. There is also student council, book club, No Place for Hate, and a cursive handwriting

club.

Students have the opportunity to celebrate diversity with the Hispanic

Heritage performance in October and the Black History Program in February.

Academic Opportunities for a variety of students

NACThe New Arrival Center is an intense English immersion program for students who are new to the country and are on a Beginner English

speaking level. They work together in a smaller setting using research based methods to gain as much English knowledge as possible in one

school year’s time. CARE

The CARE Academy is a credit recovery program for over-aged seventh grade students. They are guided by an accelerated curriculum in hopes of

sending them on to high school the following year.Read 180

READ 180 is a comprehensive system of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development proven to raise reading

achievement for struggling readers in grades 4–12+. Designed for any student reading two or more years below grade-level, READ 180 leverages adaptive technology to individualize instruction for students and provide

powerful data for differentiation to teachers.

ARISS

ARISSThis year, our students are

participating in the Amateur Radio on the International

Space Station (ARISS) program. Thornton was chosen from

over 150 schools by NASA to have a chance to have a

question and answer session with an astronaut on the

International Space Station. It has been a real treat to see our

students so excited about science this year!