Thornton Elementary has long been a fixture in east Arlington, and its story mirrors the city’s growth. Back in 2021, we covered the school’s demolition, part of Arlington ISD’s $966 million bond program. With the new campus rebuilt, here’s a look at the site’s transformation using imagery from Historic Aerials and Google Earth.
The oldest aerial available, from 1938, shows the area as farmland with no buildings in sight. By 1956, Thornton Elementary had been constructed, standing alone with just a few simple rectangular classroom buildings surrounded by fields. A 1968 aerial shows suburban expansion filling in all around the school, locking it into the growing east Arlington neighborhood.
| Feb 2001 – Thornton Elementary had expanded into a multi-wing campus with large playfields, serving as a hub for generations of local students.
| June 2022 – Construction of the new Thornton Elementary was underway. Steel framing, foundations, and new parking areas defined the modern rebuild.
From open fields in the 1930s to the construction of a brand-new school, Thornton’s site reflects how Arlington itself grew from farmland to suburban community.
October 2021 Images
Thornton Elementary History
Thornton Elementary was opened in 1956 and was expanded in the 90’s. The school was named after Myrtle Lee Thornton who moved to Texas from Tennessee in 1864. She taught math at Arlington High School.
Location
Thornton Elementary is located on East Park Road, 557 yards from Texas State Highway 360 in East Arlington, Texas.
Last Updated on October 5, 2025 by F.E.M