Best Schools in Union, Kentucky
7 schools · 3 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High
Choosing a school in Union?
Use this page to compare every school in Union 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.
New Haven Elementary School
Elementary · Boone County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Longbranch Elementary School
Elementary · Boone County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Gray Middle School
Middle · Boone County. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Union for 2026 are New Haven Elementary School (9.1/10), Longbranch Elementary School (8.9/10), and Gray Middle School (8.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 7 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
7
in this city
Avg Score
7.9
out of 10
Median Home
$364,300
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
7
in this city
Avg Score
7.9
out of 10
Median Home
$364,300
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in Union
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (7 of 7). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Haven Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Longbranch Elementary School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Gray Middle School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Shirley Mann Elementary School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 5 | Ballyshannon Middle School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Randall K. Cooper High School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Larry A. Ryle High School | 6.9 / 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
- 7.9/10
- Median household income
- $134,621
- Median home value
- $364,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 54%
- Avg commute
- 29 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 93%
86% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Union compares
Kentucky rank
#4 of 137
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.7
above Kentucky avg (6.2)
Median household income
$135k
226% of Kentucky median
Schools in this city
7
About Schools in Union, Kentucky
Union, Kentucky gives parents a rare starting point: every ranked public school in the city scores 7 or higher out of 10. All 7 ranked schools clear that threshold, and the city's average sits at 8.2 — a number that puts most peer cities in the rearview. That kind of floor-to-ceiling consistency is the first thing worth noting when you're comparing markets.
The elementary tier leads the pack. New Haven Elementary School tops the city at 9.5 out of 10 — the highest score in Union. Longbranch Elementary follows at 9.2, and Shirley Mann Elementary holds an 8.2. Three strong elementary options in the same city gives families with young children meaningful choice rather than a single default. Gray Middle School scores an 8.3, keeping the performance curve steady as students move out of the lower grades.
Randall K. Cooper High School rounds out the top five with a 7.7. That score remains well above the 7.0 floor that every Union school clears, though parents of older students should note the moderate step down from the elementary tier. A 7.7 at the high school level is still a competitive number in most Kentucky benchmarks, and it avoids the sharp drop-off seen in many cities where elementary strength doesn't carry forward.
For parents doing side-by-side city comparisons, Union's 8.2 average across all 7 ranked schools is the headline figure. Districts hitting that average typically appear at the top of regional searches, and Union achieves it without any outlier drag pulling the mean down. The practical takeaway: Union rewards families who care about school quality across all grade levels, not just at entry. Parents enrolling a kindergartner here can expect the performance standard to hold through middle school and into high school — making Union a sound long-term bet rather than a single-stage win.
Elementary Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 696 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.1 |
| 2 | 933 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.9 |
| 3 | 744 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.1 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,007 students · 6th–8th | 8.1 |
| 2 | 614 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,485 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 |
| 2 | 2,062 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 |
Schools in Union
Union, Kentucky · 7 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$134,621
Median Home Value
$364,300
Median Rent
$1,599/mo
Population
24,371
College Educated
54%
Homeownership
93%
Avg Commute
29 min
Poverty Rate
2.4%
Community Profile
Union has a median household income of $134,621. It is a well-educated community where 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $364,300, with a median rent of $1,599/month. The local poverty rate of 2.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Kentucky
- Elementary
- 3
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 2
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Kentucky
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, Kentucky
How many schools are in Union, Kentucky?
Union has 7 schools, including 7 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Union, Kentucky?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Union is 7.9 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, Kentucky?
The top-ranked school in Union on MySchoolScout is New Haven Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Union, Kentucky?
The top-ranked elementary school in Union on MySchoolScout is New Haven Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Union, Kentucky?
The top-ranked middle school in Union on MySchoolScout is Gray Middle School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best high school in Union, Kentucky?
The top-ranked high school in Union on MySchoolScout is Randall K. Cooper High School with a composite score of 7.0/10.
How many school districts serve Union, Kentucky?
Union is served by 1 school district: Boone County.
What is the education level in Union, Kentucky?
According to Census data, 54% of adults in Union have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Union, Kentucky?
The median household income in Union is approximately $134,621 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Union, Kentucky?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Union is 17.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Union, Kentucky?
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.
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Kentucky Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.