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Excellent

#251 of 2,466 schools in NJ

Top 10% in state

University High School

High School · Newark Public School District · Newark, NJ

A Newark Public School District high school where students score 27 points above what's typical for similar communities.

55 CLINTON PL, Newark, NJ 07108

  • Math 23% vs NJ 44% (2025)
  • Reading 74% vs NJ 50% (2025)
  • 92.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress9.9Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change+13.05 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendImproving
Academics7.9Very Good25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency23.4% (2025 NJSLA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency73.5% (2025 NJSLA)
Math vs. State Avg-18.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+15.3 pts
Overall Proficiency48% (2025 NJSLA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)21% (model expectation from 2025 NJSLA)
vs. Expected+27.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile69th
College Readiness6.3Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate92%
AP Participation9.4%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.2:1
District spending per student$31,680
Chronic Absenteeism2.7%

Students at University High School score 48% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 21%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 NJSLA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NJ average.

Math Proficiency23%(2025 NJSLA)
School
State
44%(2025 NJSLA)
ELA Proficiency74%(2025 NJSLA)
School
State
50%(2025 NJSLA)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 27 points since 2021, reaching 49% in 2025.

Show all 16 years
2009
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2010
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2011
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2012
Math
74%
ELA
86%
2013
Math
74%
ELA
84%
2014
Math
22%
ELA
37%
2015
Math
14%
ELA
33%
2016
Math
12%
ELA
35%
2017
Math
8%
ELA
35%
2018
Math
6%
ELA
28%
2019
Math
6%
ELA
28%
2020*
Math
6%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
6%
ELA
37%
2022
Math
8%
ELA
47%
2024
Math
12%
ELA
59%
2025
Math
23%
ELA
74%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 32 test records from NJ state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

83.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where University High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the New York map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 70Very Walkable
  • Transit 55Good Transit
  • Bike 48Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,542/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Newark), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$33,960

Median home value

$326,900

Median rent

$1,098/mo

College educated

17%

Homeownership

17.3%

Poverty rate

36%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 07108; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
9.4% participation·State avg: 3.2 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics9sports offered
4 boys'·5 girls'·13 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Nj Regional Day School - NewarkEnrollment path unverified5.7K–120.8 mi104Compare →
Team Academy Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified6.0K–120.8 mi6,319Compare →
Eagle Academy for Young Men of NewarkEnrollment path unverified4.79–121.0 mi172Compare →
Malcolm X Shabazz High SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.49–121.0 mi354Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Newark Public School District

Schools in district
64
Rank in district
#5 of 63
District spending per student
$31,680NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
25.6%Census SAIPE · 2024

University High School is listed in Newark Public School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About University High School

University High School is a public high school in Newark, NJ, part of Newark Public School District, serving approximately 447 students in grades 8th-12th with a 11.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #251 of 2,466 schools in NJ. State assessment records show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about University High School

What grades does University High School serve?

University High School serves students in grades 8th through 12th.

How many students attend University High School?

University High School has an enrollment of approximately 447 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at University High School?

The student-teacher ratio at University High School is 11.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does University High School rank in NJ?

University High School ranks #251 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

What is University High School's MySchoolScout rating?

University High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at University High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, University High School has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is University High School a charter school?

No, University High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is University High School a Title I school?

No, University High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for University High School?

83.4% of students at University High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
8th – 12th
Enrollment
447
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
40
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Essex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
2.7%
4-Year Graduation
92.0%
Area population (ZIP 07108)
28,317
Area average commute
33.7 min
Area median age
32.2
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2025 NJSLA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 NJSLA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 NJSLA · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 NJSLA. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 07108; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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