Thornton Academy

Saco, Maine

Thornton Academy, founded in 1811, is one of New England’s oldest college preparatory schools. Thornton is committed to providing a complete academic experience that lives up to its mission statement, ”Preparing students for changing world.”

Thornton Academy serves students in grades 6-12, with a boarding program at the high school level. A comprehensive high school program offers 140 courses that include 7 foreign languages (German, Latin, Russian, Ancient Greek, Mandarin Chinese, French, and Spanish), 30 arts courses (including visual arts, music, theater and modern dance) and 40 AP and honors courses that span the curriculum.

Thornton graduates matriculate to competitive American colleges and universities, valued as lifelong learners, dynamic and critical thinkers who have discovered their passions through exposure to Thornton’s many diverse opportunities. The outstanding faculty, over half with advanced degrees, are skillful in developing each student’s personal promise. Thornton’s location in the coastal Maine community of Saco, enhances its educational experiences. The school is minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, an hour from the White Mountains of Maine and New Hampshire, and 10 minutes from Maine’s largest city, Portland, a hub for artistic and cultural outlets. Boston is just 90 miles away, easily accessible by interstate highway or Amtrak train.

Academic and Sport Facilities

8 academic buildings: Mary Weymouth Library/Academic Commons holds 18,000 volumes, 80+ periodical subscriptions, numerous subscriptions to academic databases and a computer lab with 50 computers. Scamman Science Center has full labs, smart boards, 25 laptop computers in each classroom, observatory, and lecture hall. 2 Humanities buildings that also house the dance studio and pod cast theatre. Foreign language building. Arts Center with 500-seat theatre, television studio, art studios, music rooms. Technology Department oversees a wireless network throughout campus and residence hall, an online Thornton community embedded in a full-service website, more than 1,400 laptop and desktop computers available to students. Middle school serving students in grades 6-8.

On campus: American football field and stadium, eight lane outdoor track, baseball field, soccer field, softball field, 4 multipurpose fields, gymnasium with basketball court, weight room, tennis courts. Off campus (no more than ten minutes’ travel): Indoor track, hockey rink, swimming and diving pool.

Dormitories and School Residences

Brand new, state of the art dormitory, currently under construction, will house 38 students. The residence hall will offer all modern amenities, including wireless Internet, kitchen space, televisions and common rooms. Bedrooms will be large with no more than 2 students assigned per room. Supervision ratio will be exceptional with 4 faculty apartments/townhouses for 38 students.

Starting Dates:

Fall Semester: Early September, Spring Semester: Early January

Student Population:	Grades:	ESL Programs:
Co-educational	6-12	Yes

School Uniform	Teacher/Student Ratio:	Number of Students:
No	1:14	1215

Foreign Languages:

AP Courses:

Sports:

Clubs:

Other Services Offered:

Academic progress reports
Airport transfer service
Assistance in acquiring books and material
Help with holiday accommodation
Help with travel services during holidays
Orientation service
Social progress reports

Partial List of College and University Acceptances:

American University, Bates College, Berklee College of Music, Brandeis University, Boston College, Boston University, Bowdoin College, Brown University, Clark University, Colby College, College of the Holy Cross, College of William and Mary, Cornell University, Duke University, Fairfield University, Franklin and Marshall College, Hofstra University, Johns Hopkins University, Maine College of Art, Northeastern University, Providence College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Seton Hall University, Smith College, Stonehill College, Temple University, Tulane University, Union College, University of Maine, Orono, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, University of New Hampshire, University of Southern Maine, University of Vermont, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, Wesleyan University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

BOARDING SCHOOL