Thornton High

Thornton High operates as a micro-enrollment senior high in Daly City, California, part of Jefferson Union High. Current enrollment sits at 89 students spanning grades 9 through 12. That puts it 89% below the typical public school in California, which averages around 838 students.

Jefferson Union High runs 5 schools in total, collectively educating 3,650 students. Thornton High is one of those campuses.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Thornton High records that Hispanic students make up the majority at 62%. The remainder breaks down as 16% Asian, 11% White, 7% multiracial, 2% Black. The wider county runs roughly 25% Hispanic, putting the school's mix meaningfully more Hispanic than the area baseline.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, Thornton High has 8 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 11.6:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 18.2:1, putting Thornton High tighter than the state norm the norm. Roughly 53% of students at Thornton High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. That share is noticeably above San Mateo County's rate of about 34%.

Across the wider county, the surrounding county (San Mateo County) shows that the typical household earns roughly $158,855 per year, roughly 54% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 4%. Across San Mateo County's 176 public schools (combined enrollment of about 82,403 students), Thornton High is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Thomas R. Pollicita Middle, roughly 0.3 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

The campus sits in a residential setting.

Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count ticked down 38%: 143 students in 2018 compared to 89 in 2025. Over the same period, the Hispanic share expanded from 51% to 62%. The student-to-teacher ratio narrowed from 12.8:1 in 2018 to 11.6:1 today.

Within the allk12 community for this school, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.