Best Schools in Union City, New Jersey
17 schools · 11 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High · 2 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.
Jose Marti Stem Academy
High · Union City School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Thomas a Edison Elementary School
Elementary · Union City School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Sara M. Gilmore Academy
Elementary · Union City School District. 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 Jose Marti Stem Academy (8.7/10), Thomas a Edison Elementary School (8.5/10), and Sara M. Gilmore Academy (8.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 16 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
17
14 public · 3 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$446,800
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Schools
17
14 public · 3 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$446,800
home value · ACS
District
1
serving the city
Rates 8.5/10 despite 95% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.7 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.
Top-Rated Schools in Union City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (16 of 17). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jose Marti Stem Academy | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Thomas a Edison Elementary School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Sara M. Gilmore Academy | 8.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Hudson Elementary School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Jefferson Elementary School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Miftaahul Uloom Academy | 8.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Colin Powell Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Robert Waters Elementary School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Emerson Middle School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Union Hill Middle School | 6.7 / 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
- 7.3/10
- Median household income
- $65,369
- Median home value
- $446,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 28%
- Avg commute
- 33 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 20%
53% 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
New Jersey rank
#60 of 344
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.9
above New Jersey avg (6.4)
Median household income
$65k
55% of New Jersey median
Schools in this city
17
About Schools in Union City, New Jersey
Union City, New Jersey operates 14 ranked public schools with an average rating of 6.8 out of 10 — a competitive baseline for a small urban district. Nine of those 14 schools, or 64%, score 7 or higher, meaning parents have a real selection of strong options rather than a single standout surrounded by underperformers.
Jose Marti STEM Academy leads the city with a 9.2 out of 10, making it the clear top performer and a meaningful differentiator for families with high schoolers focused on science, technology, engineering, or math. That score places it well above the city average and signals consistent academic outcomes. The elementary tier is equally encouraging: Colin Powell Elementary (8.3), Eugenio Maria de Hostos Center for Early Childhood Education (8.1), Thomas A Edison Elementary (8.0), and Theodore Roosevelt Elementary (7.6) all clear the 7-plus threshold, giving parents of younger children several credible choices before the secondary years.
The early childhood picture is worth highlighting. Hostos Center's 8.1 rating at the pre-K and early elementary level suggests the district invests in foundational learning, not just test-prep at the middle and high school stages. Families moving into Union City with young children can enter the system with confidence rather than waiting until a STEM-focused secondary option opens up.
Practically, Union City's schools profile rewards early research. With 64% of schools above the 7-point mark and the strongest concentrations at the elementary and specialized high school levels, the main variable for parents is fit — STEM track versus general curriculum, elementary zone assignment versus open-enrollment options. The gap between the top score (9.2 at Jose Marti) and the city average (6.8) is just over two points, which is a narrower spread than many comparable urban districts. That compression means the floor is relatively high even if a family doesn't land in a top-five school. Start with Jose Marti for high school planning and any of the four 8-plus elementary schools for early grades.
Elementary Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 303 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 8.5 |
| 2 | 779 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.5 |
| 3 | 394 students · 1st–8th | 8.4 |
| 4 | 300 students · Pre-K–3rd | 8.4 |
| 5 | 316 students · Pre-K–4th | 8.1 |
| 6 | 702 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.7 |
| 7 | 1,019 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.3 |
| 8 | 531 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 |
| 9 | 881 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.3 |
| 10 | 761 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.0 |
Show all 11 elementary schools in Union City
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,023 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
| 2 | 902 students · 7th–8th | 6.7 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 588 students · 9th–12th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 3,089 students · 9th–12th | 4.5 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miftaahul Uloom Academy
Private
89 students · Pre-K–12th | 8.1 |
| 2 | Rising Star Academy
Private
216 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.5 |
Schools in Union City
Union City, New Jersey · 17 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$65,369
Median Home Value
$446,800
Median Rent
$1,489/mo
Population
66,375
College Educated
28%
Homeownership
20%
Avg Commute
33 min
Poverty Rate
21.3%
Community Profile
Union City has a median household income of $65,369. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $446,800, with a median rent of $1,489/month. The area has a poverty rate of 21.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 33 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Jersey
- Elementary
- 11
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 2
- Other
- 2
Resources
School District
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in New Jersey
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, New Jersey
How many schools are in Union City, New Jersey?
Union City has 17 schools, including 14 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Union City, New Jersey?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Union City is 7.3 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, New Jersey?
The top-ranked school in Union City on MySchoolScout is Jose Marti Stem Academy with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Union City, New Jersey?
The top-ranked elementary school in Union City on MySchoolScout is Thomas a Edison Elementary School with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Union City, New Jersey?
The top-ranked middle school in Union City on MySchoolScout is Emerson Middle School with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best high school in Union City, New Jersey?
The top-ranked high school in Union City on MySchoolScout is Jose Marti Stem Academy with a composite score of 8.7/10.
How many school districts serve Union City, New Jersey?
Union City is served by 1 school district: Union City School District.
What is the education level in Union City, New Jersey?
According to Census data, 28% of adults in Union City have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Union City, New Jersey?
The median household income in Union City is approximately $65,369 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Union City, New Jersey?
Yes, Union City has 3 private schools alongside 14 public schools. The top-rated private school is Miftaahul Uloom Academy with a score of 8.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Union City, New Jersey?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Union City is 12.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Union City, New Jersey?
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
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, New Jersey Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.