Best Schools in Union City, California
13 schools · 7 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Union City?
Use this page to compare every school in Union City by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Delaine Eastin Elementary
Elementary · New Haven Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Itliong-vera Cruz
Middle · New Haven Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Pioneer Elementary
Elementary · New Haven Unified. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Union City for 2026 are Delaine Eastin Elementary (8.3/10), Itliong-vera Cruz (8.2/10), and Pioneer Elementary (7.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
13
10 public · 3 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$1,058,200
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
13
10 public · 3 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$1,058,200
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 8.2/10 despite 50% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.2 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Union City schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +5.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Union City schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Union City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (11 of 13). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaine Eastin Elementary | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Itliong-vera Cruz | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Pioneer Elementary | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Tom Kitayama Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 5 | James Logan High | 6.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Cesar Chavez Middle | 6.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Alvarado Elementary | 5.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Decoto School for Independent Study | 5.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Searles Elementary | 5.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Guy Jr. Emanuele Elementary | 4.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.3/10
- Median household income
- $137,194
- Median home value
- $1,058,200
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 45%
- Avg commute
- 33 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 67%
36% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Union City compares
California rank
#326 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.0
above California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$137k
138% of California median
Schools in this city
11
About Schools in Union City, California
Union City, California offers a focused public school landscape with 10 ranked schools and an average score of 6.2 out of 10 — a solid foundation for families evaluating the area. Performance here clusters meaningfully above average in its top tier: 4 of the 10 ranked schools, or 40%, score 7 or higher, giving parents real options within city limits rather than forcing a search across district boundaries.
Leading the city is Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School, the top-ranked school with an 8.2 out of 10. It sits comfortably above both the city average and most comparable urban middle schools in the Bay Area. Close behind is Delaine Eastin Elementary at 8.1, making Union City's elementary-to-middle pipeline unusually consistent for a city this size. Families with younger children also have strong options in Tom Kitayama Elementary (7.5) and Pioneer Elementary (7.1), both clearing the 7-point threshold that signals reliable academic performance. Cesar Chavez Middle rounds out the top five at 6.5 — below the strongest performers but still above the city average.
The spread between Union City's best and the rest is worth noting. With four schools at 7-plus and six schools scoring below that mark, parents should check school assignments carefully before committing to a specific neighborhood. Elementary zoning in particular can mean the difference between a top-quartile school and a mid-range one, even within a short drive. The concentration of high performers at the elementary level — two schools above 8.0 — suggests the district invests early, though middle school options are thinner at that level.
For parents relocating to the East Bay, Union City competes reasonably well against neighboring cities in Alameda County. The 6.2 city average is lifted significantly by its top schools, and those schools are accessible through standard public enrollment. Families who prioritize elementary quality will find Delaine Eastin and Itliong-Vera Cruz worth anchoring a neighborhood search around — both consistently score among the stronger public options in this part of the Bay.
Elementary Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 672 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.3 | ||
| 2 | 637 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.4 | ||
| 3 | 633 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 | ||
| 4 | 653 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.4 | ||
| 5 | 712 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.2 | ||
| 6 | 684 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.9 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Mission Hills Middle School
Private
401 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.4 | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,092 students · 6th–8th | 8.2 |
| 2 | 979 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,151 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 24 students · 6th–12th | — | ||
| 2 | Union City Christian School
Private
60 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 279 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.3 |
Schools in Union City
Union City, California · 13 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$137,194
Median Home Value
$1,058,200
Median Rent
$2,713/mo
Population
68,141
College Educated
45%
Homeownership
67%
Avg Commute
33 min
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Community Profile
Union City has a median household income of $137,194. It is a well-educated community where 45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,058,200, with a median rent of $2,713/month. The local poverty rate of 7.0% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 33 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 7
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 1
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Union City, California
How many schools are in Union City, California?
Union City has 13 schools, including 10 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Union City, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Union City is 6.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Union City, California?
The top-ranked school in Union City on MySchoolScout is Delaine Eastin Elementary with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Union City, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Union City on MySchoolScout is Delaine Eastin Elementary with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Union City, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Union City on MySchoolScout is Itliong-vera Cruz with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best high school in Union City, California?
The top-ranked high school in Union City on MySchoolScout is James Logan High with a composite score of 6.6/10.
How many school districts serve Union City, California?
Union City is served by 1 school district: New Haven Unified.
What is the education level in Union City, California?
According to Census data, 45% of adults in Union City have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Union City, California?
The median household income in Union City is approximately $137,194 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Union City, California?
Yes, Union City has 3 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Mission Hills Middle School with a score of 4.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Union City, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Union City is 21.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Union City, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.