Can I use Union County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Union County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Union County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Union County?

Start with the 178 listed public schools and 27 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Union County Schools & Education

Name: Union County, New Jersey Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Union County, New Jersey

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

69/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

88.6%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

88.6%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$12,330

National avg $13,239

State avg $13,088

School Score

69/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 80/100

State Score Position

#15

of 21 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Union County

Measured School Summary

Union County performs at an average level with a school score of 69/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.6%.

Funding Context

With $12,330 per pupil, Union County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 14% below the New Jersey average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 2.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Union County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

178 public schools and 27 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

69/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #15 of 21 New Jersey counties with school score data.

Completion

88.6%

2.8 pts below the state average

Funding context

$12,330

$758 below the state average

School coverage

178

27 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Union County has 178 public schools across 27 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Union County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Large multi-district county

Union County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.

State position

#15

of 21 New Jersey counties with school score data. The county score is 11 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Elizabeth Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

27,378 students

Elementary 24Middle 2High 8Other 3

37 listed schools in this county slice.

Plainfield Public School District

Elementary to high school visible

8,331 students

Elementary 9Middle 2High 3Other 0

14 listed schools in this county slice.

Township of Union School District

Elementary to high school visible

7,600 students

Elementary 6Middle 3High 1Other 0

10 listed schools in this county slice.

Linden Public School District

Elementary to high school visible

6,032 students

Elementary 8Middle 2High 1Other 0

11 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Elizabeth Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 37 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Union County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Union County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Union County, New Jersey

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Massive Scale in Union's Education System

Union County manages a vast network of 178 public schools serving nearly 100,000 students. The infrastructure is geared toward primary education with 103 elementary schools, supported by 39 high schools and 26 middle schools. The system is diverse, including 5 charter schools, 5 alternative schools, and 6 special education centers.

The Powerhouse Elizabeth Public Schools

Elizabeth Public Schools is the dominant district, overseeing 37 schools and 27,378 students. Plainfield and Linden also run significant operations, serving 8,331 and 6,032 students respectively. Charter schools play a visible role here, making up 2.8% of the total school landscape and providing various educational alternatives.

Universal Suburban Schooling

Every single school in Union County is classified as suburban, reflecting the county's densely populated, interconnected communities. The average school size is 550 students, but high schools can be much larger. Union High School leads the county with 2,308 students, followed by Plainfield High with 1,925.

School Overview

Total Schools

178

in Union County

Reported Enrollment

97,270

178 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

3% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary103

Middle26

High39

Other10

27 School Districts in Union County

Elizabeth Public Schools

Plainfield Public School District

Township of Union School District

Linden Public School District

Westfield Public School District

Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District

Rahway Public School District

Summit Public School District

Cranford Public School District

Hillside Public School District

7 schools

3,018 students

178 Public Schools in Union County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 20 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 178 matching schools

Public schools in Union County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Union High School	Profile	Township of Union School District	UNION, 07083Suburb: Large	9–12	High	2,308
Plainfield High School	Profile	Plainfield Public School District	PLAINFIELD, 07060Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,925
Westfield Senior High School	Profile	Westfield Public School District	Westfield, 07090Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,818
Linden High School	Profile	Linden Public School District	Linden, 07036Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,801
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School	Profile	Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District	SCOTCH PLAINS, 07076Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,510
John E. Dwyer Technology Academy	Profile	Elizabeth Public Schools	Elizabeth, 07202Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,443
College Achieve Central Charter School	Profile	College Achieve Central Charter School	Plainfield, 07062Suburb: Large	KG–12	Charter	1,403
Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Health & Public Safety Academy	Profile	Elizabeth Public Schools	Elizabeth, 07202Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,299
Elizabeth High School - Frank J Cicarell Academy	Profile	Elizabeth Public Schools	ELIZABETH, 07202Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,281
Rahway High School	Profile	Rahway Public School District	RAHWAY, 07065Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,204
Summit High School	Profile	Summit Public School District	SUMMIT, 07901Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,161
Terence C. Reilly School No 7	Profile	Elizabeth Public Schools	ELIZABETH, 07206Suburb: Large	2–8	Middle	1,126
Cranford High School	Profile	Cranford Public School District	CRANFORD, 07016Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,095
William F. Halloran School No.22	Profile	Elizabeth Public Schools	ELIZABETH, 07202Suburb: Large	2–8	Middle	1,089
Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy	Profile	Elizabeth Public Schools	Elizabeth, 07201Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,070
Toussaint Louverture-Marquis de Lafayette School No. 6	Profile	Elizabeth Public Schools	ELIZABETH, 07201Suburb: Large	PK–8	Primary	1,042
Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy	Profile	Elizabeth Public Schools	Elizabeth, 07208Suburb: Large	9–12	High	996
Burnet Middle School	Profile	Township of Union School District	UNION, 07083Suburb: Large	5–8	Middle	981
Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School	Profile	Summit Public School District	SUMMIT, 07901Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	942
Governor Livingston High School	Profile	Berkeley Heights School District	BERKELEY HEIGHTS, 07922Suburb: Large	9–12	High	936

Union High School

Township of Union School District

UNION, 07083 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High2,308 students

Plainfield High School

Plainfield Public School District

PLAINFIELD, 07060 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,925 students

Westfield Senior High School

Westfield Public School District

Westfield, 07090 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,818 students

Linden High School

Linden Public School District

Linden, 07036 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,801 students

Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School

Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District

SCOTCH PLAINS, 07076 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,510 students

John E. Dwyer Technology Academy

Elizabeth Public Schools

Elizabeth, 07202 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,443 students

College Achieve Central Charter School

Plainfield, 07062 / Suburb: Large

ProfileKG–12Charter1,403 students

Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Health & Public Safety Academy

Elizabeth Public Schools

Elizabeth, 07202 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,299 students

Elizabeth High School - Frank J Cicarell Academy

Elizabeth Public Schools

ELIZABETH, 07202 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,281 students

Rahway High School

Rahway Public School District

RAHWAY, 07065 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,204 students

Summit High School

Summit Public School District

SUMMIT, 07901 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,161 students

Terence C. Reilly School No 7

Elizabeth Public Schools

ELIZABETH, 07206 / Suburb: Large

Profile2–8Middle1,126 students

Cranford High School

Cranford Public School District

CRANFORD, 07016 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,095 students

William F. Halloran School No.22

Elizabeth Public Schools

ELIZABETH, 07202 / Suburb: Large

Profile2–8Middle1,089 students

Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy

Elizabeth Public Schools

Elizabeth, 07201 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,070 students

Toussaint Louverture-Marquis de Lafayette School No. 6

Elizabeth Public Schools

ELIZABETH, 07201 / Suburb: Large

ProfilePK–8Primary1,042 students

Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy

Elizabeth Public Schools

Elizabeth, 07208 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High996 students

Burnet Middle School

Township of Union School District

UNION, 07083 / Suburb: Large

Profile5–8Middle981 students

Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School

Summit Public School District

SUMMIT, 07901 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle942 students

Governor Livingston High School

Berkeley Heights School District

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, 07922 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High936 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$12,330

State avg $13,088

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Union County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which New Jersey counties have the highest graduation rates?

Hunterdon County (95.8%), Salem County (95.3%), and Bergen County (95.1%) currently lead New Jersey among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in New Jersey?

Across New Jersey counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $13,088. The highest current county values are Hunterdon County ($15,445), Sussex County ($14,659), and Cape May County ($14,220). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Union County?

Union County has a school score of 69/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Union County?

The high school graduation rate in Union County is 88.6%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Union County spend per student?

Union County spends $12,330 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Union County, New Jersey — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Union County, New Jersey?

What are the major school districts in Union County, New Jersey?

What is the school experience like in Union County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Camden County

New Jersey

-1 pts

68/100

School score

Essex County

New Jersey

-1 pts

68/100

School score

Mercer County

New Jersey

-3 pts

66/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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