Campus Safety

The safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority.

Nothing could be more important than safety. The administration, faculty, and staff at Thornton Academy work hard to ensure that our students are secure, comfortable, and well cared for. Only then are students able to engage in the activities that make our school what it is: a place where they can be who they are and become who they want to be.

Ensuring campus health and safety is a constantly changing and often quickly evolving task. We are fortunate to have a staff that places the well-being of our students at the forefront of their every decision. From mental and physical health to digital safety, we take a holistic approach in our determination of what is best for their present situation and future goals.

From my three-year-experience here at Thornton, our school has ensured the students' safety from numerous perspectives. As to our dormitory life, frankly speaking, the relationship between the students and dorm parents definitely goes beyond to a degree that everyone supports each other and cares each other just like a family.

harley chen '22, china

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Safety at Thornton Academy

Campus Safety

Thornton Academy is located in Maine, the safest and most peaceful state in the United States. Nonetheless, we take many precautions to ensure that our campus is a safe place for our students and staff.

We employ a full-time Director of Campus Safety. Jim Trask '80 is a retired State Police Detective who brings his many years of professional experience and training to his alma mater. His duties include campus observation and supervision, investigation of incidents on campus, and preventative measures.

Our campus buildings are locked and secured when appropriate to ensure safety. All dormitory buildings are locked from the outside and students are provided with fobs to enter the building and keys for their individual dorm rooms.

Thornton Academy follows best-practice guidelines for video and camera surveillance on campus. Our goal is to protect the safety of our community members while respecting their privacy rights. We do have cameras posted in strategic public places around campus. Our Director of Campus Safety uses camera footage to review incidents that occur.

In the evenings and on the weekends, a private security firm patrols campus.

Physical Health

With two full-time school nurses on campus (one at the upper and middle schools and one in the residential life program), our nursing team coordinates health services for our students and are available for drop-in care throughout the school day. Our nurses are an important component of our Student Services Team which supports student success through acute and long-term health care needs which may impact a student’s school experience.

In addition to our on-campus nurses, Thornton Academy is located within a 5 minute drive of two health clinics and a 15 minute drive of three hospitals. We also have an on-call doctor that our nurses rely on for student physical exams and other health-related questions.

Mental Health

At Thornton Academy, we recognize that mental health is an important part of well-being. Our students benefit from a 1:1 relationship with a school counselor, with whom they are able to discuss social and emotional issues that may come up at school or outside of school. Additionally, Thornton Academy has four social workers that students are able to access in times of greater mental health need.

Our residential students benefit from close relationships with their dorm mates and dorm families. Residential Life advisors meet with their advisees on a weekly basis to check in on grades, behavior, and social and emotional issues.