Total enrollment
99,046
+2,878 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Union County
New Jersey · Public K-12
On the public-school side, Union County (New Jersey) totals 180 K-12 schools and roughly 99,046 students. Median household income is around $103,202. By level, that breaks down as 109 elementary, 26 middle, and 39 high schools.
4-year change in Union County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
179
+4 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Union County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In New Jersey | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 39.5% | #10 of 21 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 99,046 | #4 of 21 | #95 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 179 | #5 of 21 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.5:1 | #20 of 21 | #731 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 51.9% | #6 of 21 | #1,523 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 66.3% | #9 of 21 | #258 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Union County school rankings
Residents
579,290
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
180
29 districts
Enrollment
99,046
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$103,202
Below New Jersey avg
Free/reduced lunch
51.9%
Above New Jersey avg
Elementary
109
49,235 students
Middle
26
17,136 students
High
39
30,284 students
Combined / other
6
2,391 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Elizabeth Public Schools
27,580 students · 29 districts in Union County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Union County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
38.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.5%
civilian labor
Median age
39
23.5% under 18
Test scores in Union County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 154 schools ranked. New Jersey state average: 53.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Union County
Elizabeth28 schoolsPlainfield17 schoolsScotch Plains14 schoolsWestfield11 schoolsElizabeth10 schoolsLinden10 schoolsUnion10 schoolsSummit9 schoolsCranford7 schoolsRoselle7 schoolsHillside6 schoolsRahway6 schoolsNew Providence5 schoolsRoselle Park5 schoolsSpringfield5 schoolsBerkeley Hts4 schoolsClark4 schoolsPlainfield3 schoolsWestfield3 schoolsBerkeley Heights2 schoolsKenilworth2 schoolsMountainside2 schoolsScotch Plains2 schoolsClark1 schoolGarwood1 schoolGarwood1 schoolHillside1 schoolLinden1 schoolRoselle1 schoolUnion1 schoolWinfield1 school
About Union County
Union County is a sizable county of about 579,290 residents in New Jersey. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 99,046 students across 180 schools.
Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $103,202 a year, 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 7%.
On the school-mix side, Union County spans 109 elementary schools (49,235 students), 26 middle schools (17,136), 39 high schools (30,284), and 6 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Union County is Elizabeth Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 27,580 students.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 99,046 students, rose 3% from the 96,168 reported in SY 2020-21. Over that span, Union County added 4 schools, going from 175 to 179.
On allk12, the community for Union County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data