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Public high school · Newark Public School District · Newark, New Jersey

University High School

University High School rates 8.0, among the strongest high schools in Newark Public School District, where the rated median is 5.6.

High schools, 1 to 10This campus against public high schools around it that are rated on verified state test data.
8.0this school

8.0 on a one-to-ten scale; the Newark Public School District median is 5.6.

#390 of 2,466 schools in New Jersey · Newark Public School District: 15 high schools rated, median 5.6

The brief

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

It ranks 390 of 2,466 schools in New Jersey and 8 of 63 in Newark Public School District.

University High School is listed in Newark Public School District, and a district label does not verify attendance for an address: confirm the zoned campus with the district before you commit to a street.

Math23%21 points below the New Jersey average of 44%Grade 11 · 107 students tested · 2025 NJSLA
Reading74%24 points above the New Jersey average of 50%Grade 9 · 117 students tested · 2025 NJSLA
Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 27 points since 2021, reaching 49% in 2025.2025 NJSLA; 32 test records from NJ state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

What the rating is made of, each out of 10

Student Progress
9.9
25% of the rating
Academics
7.9
25% of the rating
College Readiness
5.3
30% of the rating
Resources & Environment
9.8
20% of the rating
About this school's data1 correction under review · rating: low confidence · 7 sources, 2019–2025

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

Attendance data is under correction. This existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating may still reflect an unverified attendance input.

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics

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

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

The neighborhood

Where it sits, and what the area looks like.
University High School and the 20 nearest high schools, each pin colored by its score.Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Verify the enrollment path with the district.

The area

Median income
$33,960
Median home value
$326,900
Median rent
$1,098/mo
College educated
17%
Homeownership
17.3%
Poverty rate
36%

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

Getting around

Walk Score
70
Very Walkable
Transit Score
55
Good Transit
Bike Score
48
Somewhat Bikeable
City reported crime
2,304/100K
Reported Part-1 offenses (violent + property + arson) per 100,000 residents, from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program for Newark. This is a city-level reported-crime measure, not a school safety rating.

Walk, transit and bike scores byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2025 · city context (Newark), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2025. Freshness not available.

Programs and who goes here

What the campus offers, and who it enrolls.

Programs

AP and IB
3 AP courses
9.4% participation · state average 3.2 AP courses · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics
9 sports
4 boys' · 5 girls' · 13 teams (incl. JV) · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM courses
5 of 5
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted and talented
Available
A program for qualifying students · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Who goes here

Free or reduced lunch
83.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance. Shown separately, never in the score.

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD).

Compare nearby

Grade-compatible schools using the same rating model.
Public-school ratings. Grade-compatible schools within 5 miles, best rated first.
  1. University High Schoolthis school
    8.0
  2. 7.6Compare →
  3. 7.1Compare →
  4. 5.8Compare →
  5. 5.6Compare →
  6. 4.5Compare →
  7. 4.1Compare →
  8. 4.1Compare →
  9. 2.7Compare →
Eight grade-compatible schools using the same rating model sit within 5 miles, and none rates higher than University High School.Public-school ratings. Straight-line distance from this campus. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries; verify the enrollment path with the district.

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.

The record

What is on file, and where each number came from.

Questions families ask

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 #390 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

What is University High School's MySchoolScout rating?

University High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 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 facts

Grades
8th – 12th
Enrollment
447
Student-teacher ratio
11.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
40
Type
Regular
Title I
No
Setting
Large City
County
Essex County
4-year graduation
90–94%
Class of 2023
Rank in district
#8 of 63
Schools in district
64
District spending per student
$31,680
NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
25.6%
Census SAIPE · 2024
Area population (ZIP 07108)
28,317
Area average commute
33.7 min
Area median age
32.2

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24).

Related reading

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.