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Thornton Academy United States Flag

A- 5.0 1 Reviews Recommended Maine, US
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Home Boarding schools Thornton Academy
Admission Office admissions@thorntonacademy.org

School Overview

Data & methodology
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 Information 2025 | FindingSchool
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School Stats

Average
Current School
Tuition
$53,800
Enrollment
1486
International Students
11%
Faculty with Advanced Degrees
91%
Teacher-Student Ratio
1:10
Endowment
$27 million
AP
26
Average SAT Score
1325
Average ACT Score
29
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 +

AP Scores

(2023-2024)
Number of students who took AP tests
275
Number of tests taken
495
51%
18%
28%
Score 5
Score 4
Score 3
Other scores

Academics

AP Courses

(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
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AP Equivalent and Beyond

(1)
Calculus III

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
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Extracurricular Activities and Clubs

(48)
Student Media Team (Club)
TATV Club
Fall Play
One-Act Competitive Play
Spring Musical
INK Literary Magazine (Club)
Student Media Team (Club)
TATV Club
Fall Play
One-Act Competitive Play
Spring Musical
INK Literary Magazine (Club)
Anime Club
Art Club
TA Photography Club
Ballroom Dance Club
Music Appreciation Club
Jazz Combo/Improvisation Club
Korean Club
Unified sports club
Student Council
TA Action Team
Amnesty International
Ambassador Program
Animal Rights Club
Disaster Relief Club
Environmental Club
Interact Club
Ribbon Club
R.S.V.P. Club
Math Team
Neuroscience Club
Robotics Club
Science Olympiad Team
Astronomy Club
Model United Nations Club
National History Day
Speech Team
TED-x TA
Debate Team
Anglers’ Society
Cycling Club
Equestrian Club
GSTA
Political Action Group
Table Top Gamers Club
Women & Gender Equal Rights Club
Outdoor Adventure Club
Chinese Club
German Club
Spanish Club
French Club
Classics Club
Arabic Club
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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
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Contact Thornton Academy

Admissions Officer
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Select up to 5 questions for the school Below are 10 common questions that parents often ask
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Contact Information FindingSchool will forward your request to Thornton Academy in English. The school may contact you back via the following information:
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School Link

Apply

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

Contact Info

http://www.thorntonacademy.org
438 Main Street Saco, ME 04072
207-282-5383
admissions@thorntonacademy.org
Maine

Basic Info

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

Application Info

Deadline: Rolling
Interview: Zoom, On Campus, International Admission Visits, Others, WeChat
Pre Interview: No Requirement
Other Accepted Scores: TOEFL, TOEFL Junior, Duolingo, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, IELTS, ELTIS
School Code:
TOEFL: 1000
SSAT: 7665
Spots for Chinese Students Next Year: 2

5.0/5 1 reviews

FindingSchool's user
Provided by School (Student) 15/05/2025
I am a dorm student from China and have stayed at Thornton Academy for my entire high school life. When I first arrived in 2022, I was 14 years old, dependent and needing help with almost everything. The dorm parents and students were extremely enthusiastic and always willing to help me in every aspect of life, including academics, sports, and friendships. It truly felt like a second home.
The diversity of courses offered by the school and the kindness of the teachers made me passionate about gaining new knowledge every day. Over my four years at TA, I have grown and changed a lot. I’ve matured, learned responsibility, set meaningful life goals, developed independence, overall became a better person. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the experiences and support I got at Thornton Academy.
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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 1486 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, 18 of their students score 4 and 5 in AP exams.

Thornton Academy also have 91% 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 Boarding Tuition for Thornton Academy?
The total fee for Thornton Academy in 2024 is $53,800 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 the 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 173 users.
How do I complete an application for 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.
Are there additional schools that are located close to Thornton Academy?
Yes, here are few: Brewster Academy, Hyde School and Wolfeboro: The Summer Boarding School.

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, Massachusetts
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%
Nearby Airport Logan International Airport

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