Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Union City School District

New Jersey · Public School District
14
Schools
11,590
Students
$30,641
Per-Pupil Spend
+114% nat'l
84.7%
Free Lunch Rate
+32pp vs nat'l
87.0%
Graduation Rate
≈ nat'l avg
District Overview

Union City School District is a public school district in New Jersey serving 11,590 students across 14 schools. It includes 10 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high schools. Its graduation rate of 87.0% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $30,641 is above average for a US public school district. 85% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 44/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (14)
Middle Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Emerson Middle School06–081,001
Union Hill Middle School07–08849
High Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Jose Marti STEM Academy09–12664
Union City High School09–123,025
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$30,641+114% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
82%
State
82.0%
Local (property tax)
5.0%
Federal
13.1%

State funding accounts for 82% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
14
Schools
11,590
Students
85%
Free Lunch
$31K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate87.0%
Opportunity Score44/100
StateNew Jersey →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $30,641 per pupil — 114% above the national average of $14,347.
High economic need in community
85% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Union City School District?
Union City School District has 14 public schools, serving a total of 11,590 students.
What is the graduation rate for Union City School District?
The graduation rate is 87.0%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Union City School District spend per student?
Union City School District spends $30,641 per pupil — 114% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Union City School District?
85% of students in Union City School District qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Union City School District?
No, Union City School District does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Union City School District serve?
Union City School District serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Union City School District?
The median opportunity score across schools in Union City School District is 44/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.