The first school began in 1865 as a one-room white wooden structure known as York Community School. It was located where the West Carroll Intermediate School now sits.  By 1904 the building had increased...

 to three stories and included 12 years of study. By 1917 work began on construction of a brick High School on the east side of RT 84.

The New York Community High School was dedicated on March 21, 1919 and the original school was used exclusively as a grade school. In the years following, smaller schools in York Township and the surrounding area were consolidated into the Village school system, and the old wood-framed grade school was replaced with a modern brick building in 1949.

In 1976 the high school officially became known as Thomson High School, although the school teams had already been known as the Thomson Trojans for some years.

The highlight of the school’s history is unarguably 1972, when the boy’s varsity basketball team captured the hearts of the ISHA Class A tournament and brought the 4th place trophy home to cheering crowds.

In 2005 Thomson schools consolidated with those in the neighboring towns of Savanna and Mt. Carroll, resulting in the creation of the West Carroll School District. 

The high school and primary schools are currently located in Savanna, the junior high school is located in Mt. Carroll. 

The Thomson School is now home to West Carroll Pre-School, Headstart, and Early Step Classes and the West Carroll School District offices.