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University High School

Q: Is University High School a good school?

University High School ranks 233 rd of 434 New Jersey high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 8-12

233^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 434 New Jersey High Schools

Better than 46% of New Jersey high schools

Summary

University High School is a public high school located in Newark, New Jersey, serving grades 8-12 with a total enrollment of 447 students. The school is part of the Newark Public School District, which is ranked 534 out of 609 districts in New Jersey and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, University High School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of New Jersey high schools, with a ranking between 233-367 out of 400-430 schools over the past 10 years. The school's performance on state assessments is generally below the state and district averages, with only 23.4% of students proficient in Algebra I, compared to 38.2% statewide and 20.2% in the Newark district. However, the school performs better in English Language Arts, with 73.5% of 9th-grade students proficient, compared to 49.9% statewide and 36% in the district. The school's graduation rate has been relatively stable, ranging from 85.7% to 91.3% over the past few years, and its dropout rate has been low, ranging from 0.7% to 2.4%.

While University High School generally outperforms other Newark public high schools, such as West Side High School, Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark, and Weequahic High School, it lags behind Bard Early College High School, a Newark public school that ranks in the top 40% of New Jersey high schools and has significantly higher proficiency rates in core subjects. Additionally, University High School has relatively high chronic absenteeism rates, which may be impacting student achievement, and its spending per student of $12,448 in the 2018-2019 school year is lower than the state average.

426

Students ?

11.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,448

Per pupil spending ?

82.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

55 Clinton Pl
Newark, NJ 07108-1221

(973) 374-3190

District: Newark Public School District

Racial breakdown:

African American:

77.0%

Hispanic:

20.9%

Asian:

0.9%

See top rated New Jersey high schools

Compare University High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 11th percentile in 2021 → 46th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 46th (2025) from a 11th-percentile low (2021)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the New Jersey average (42% vs 48% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Mathematics scores 26 pts below the New Jersey average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school42%

District avg31%

New Jersey avg48%

233^rd of 434

New Jersey public high schools ?

Bottom 46%▼ down 21 pts since 2015

From top 33% (2015) to bottom 46% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of New Jersey High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 13High Schools in the Newark Public School District

534^th of 609Newark Public School District among New Jersey districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2023	57.5	289 of 748	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	22.2	582 of 745	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.8	611 of 745	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	5.8	694 of 716	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	13.5	617 of 712	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	12.1	631 of 713	11.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	42.3	463 of 717	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	52.9	403 of 704	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	58.6	352 of 677	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	83.3	88 of 684	87.1%	★★★★☆
2010	60.3	342 of 677	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2009	76.8	151 of 664	77.3%	★★★★☆
2006	86.5	32 of 615	94.8%	★★★★★
2005	86.4	48 of 599	92.0%	★★★★★
2004	80.5	116 of 588	80.3%	★★★★☆
2003	72.9	183 of 574	68.1%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2023	72.3	65 of 361	82.0%	★★★★☆
2019	32.9	231 of 326	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.5	290 of 326	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	45.4	233 of 434	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	32.6	292 of 429	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	25.2	303 of 422	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	26.1	293 of 415	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.5	359 of 405	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.2	367 of 416	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.0	316 of 415	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	28.1	293 of 411	28.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	31.2	278 of 409	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	50.7	132 of 406	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	64.2	182 of 411	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.9	184 of 396	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	77.2	64 of 388	83.5%	★★★★☆
2011	79.1	55 of 378	85.4%	★★★★☆
2010	73.9	99 of 371	73.3%	★★★★☆
2009	60.0	195 of 370	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	75.5	89 of 359	75.2%	★★★★☆
2007	70.1	119 of 361	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2006	76.2	79 of 357	77.9%	★★★★☆
2005	76.2	81 of 351	76.9%	★★★★☆
2004	83.3	35 of 348	89.9%	★★★★★
2003	60.4	165 of 343	51.9%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	58.7	85 of 283	70.0%	★★★★☆
2024	50.8	120 of 282	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	43.8	106 of 250	57.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	41.6	118 of 256	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	30.8	181 of 247	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.6	185 of 254	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.9	147 of 266	44.7%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	82.6	20 of 215	90.7%	★★★★★
2024	73.0	27 of 191	85.9%	★★★★☆
2019	44.0	55 of 138	60.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	34.8	297 of 426	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	19.5	361 of 420	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	26.1	290 of 416	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	25.2	300 of 414	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.1	352 of 402	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	12.9	352 of 408	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.0	346 of 403	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	77.9	56 of 406	86.2%	★★★★☆
2024	42.2	222 of 403	44.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.1	96 of 385	75.1%	★★★★☆
2021	38.9	211 of 374	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.0	199 of 368	45.9%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	57.8	119 of 377	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.8	182 of 358	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.9	135 of 344	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.0	135 of 324	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	30.1	252 of 326	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.5	291 of 347	16.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.0	181 of 345	47.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	40.5	234 of 426	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	23.2	329 of 419	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.5	319 of 414	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	28.2	258 of 410	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	14.6	366 of 402	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	10.8	371 of 407	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	29.8	268 of 405	33.8%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2024	61.7	95 of 361	73.7%	★★★★☆
2019	18.6	319 of 349	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	25.3	291 of 355	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Middle school

African American (2023)82nd percentile+21 vs school

High school

English Language Learner (2025)91st percentile+44 vs school

Hispanic (2025)86th percentile+40 vs school

Special Education (2024)74th percentile+42 vs school

African American (2025)70th percentile+24 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)68th percentile+22 vs school

Male (2025)45th percentile~ school

Female (2025)30th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs New Jersey (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts74%+24 vs state

Mathematics32%-26 vs state

Algebra I23%-8 vs state

Science11%-20 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, September 28, 2022

I am a previous & current University parent when I say the principal today has given the school such a positive I mean just that because Principal Hamilton is the best thing that has ever happen to the district because she genuinely cares about her babies!!! Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Awesome school Close Quote

Schools Near University High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NJGPA English Language Arts (2025)	NJGPA Mathematics (2025)	NJSLA-S Science (2025)	NJSLA English Language Arts (2025)	NJSLA Algebra I (2025)			NJSLA Geometry (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NJGPA English Language Arts 11th Grade	NJGPA Mathematics 11th Grade	NJSLA-S Science 11th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 9th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I 9th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I 10th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I End of Course	NJSLA Geometry 9th Grade	NJSLA Geometry End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
University High School	Public	8-12	55 Clinton Pl	Newark	07108	Essex County	Newark Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 374-3190	426	36	11.8	82.2%	3 (0.7%)	328 (77.0%)	89 (20.9%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	45.4	233^rd of 434 public high schools	46.3%		32.6	292^nd of 429 public high schools	31.9%	59	87.2	32.2	11.3	73.5	23.4		23.4			$12,448	$636	$11,812
Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark	Public	9-12	279 Chancellor Avenue	Newark	07112	Essex County	Newark Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 733-1234	155	14	11.0	82.6%	1 (0.6%)	118 (76.1%)	31 (20.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	3 (1.9%)	12.6	405^th of 434 public high schools	6.7%		7	418^th of 429 public high schools	2.6%	13	60.5	32.6	4.7	0.0	8.7		8.7			$13,274	$240	$13,034
Weequahic High School	Public	9-12	279 Chancellor Ave	Newark	07112	Essex County	Newark Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 705-3923	592	36	16.4	70.4%	5 (0.8%)	503 (85.0%)	72 (12.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.7%)	7 (1.2%)	7	426^th of 434 public high schools	1.8%		13.1	391^st of 429 public high schools	8.9%	35	54.8	13.6	4.0	7.3	0.9		0.9			$14,342	$675	$13,667
Malcolm X Shabazz High School	Public	9-12	80 Johnson Ave	Newark	07108	Essex County	Newark Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 733-6974	531	25	21.2	70.4%	4 (0.8%)	314 (59.1%)	208 (39.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	14.2	396^th of 434 public high schools	8.8%		11	407^th of 429 public high schools	5.1%	11	61.3	44.5	2.7	18.6	3.4		3.4			$16,251	$1,983	$14,268
Central High School	Public	9-12	250 18th Avenue	Newark	07103	Essex County	Newark Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 733-6378	1,051	78	13.5	74.5%	8 (0.8%)	554 (52.7%)	465 (44.2%)	8 (0.8%)	3 (0.3%)	4 (0.4%)	9 (0.9%)	8.5	423^rd of 434 public high schools	2.5%		8.6	413^th of 429 public high schools	3.7%	10	55.2	14.8	5.9	11.6	3.3		3.3			$16,638	$864	$15,774
Bard Early College High School	Public	9-12	321 Bergen Street	Newark	07103	Essex County	Newark Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 733-8363	395	32	12.5	62.5%	2 (0.5%)	257 (65.1%)	124 (31.4%)	4 (1.0%)	2 (0.5%)	3 (0.8%)	3 (0.8%)	57.6	158^th of 434 public high schools	63.6%		44.8	230^th of 429 public high schools	46.4%	72		84.9	23.1	58.9	44.0		44.0	7.7	7.7	$10,089	$279	$9,810
Newark Vocational High School	Public	9-12	301 West Kinney St	Newark	07103	Essex County	Newark Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 733-7308	591	59	10.0	86.6%	11 (1.9%)	257 (43.5%)	308 (52.1%)	3 (0.5%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.4%)	18.7	368^th of 434 public high schools	15.2%		12.9	393^rd of 429 public high schools	8.4%	25	67.7	25.5	8.1	41.3	5.6		5.6
Irvington High School	Public	9-12	1253 Clinton Ave	Irvington	07111	Essex County	Irvington Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 399-6897	1,913	127	15.1	62.5%	4 (0.2%)	1,332 (69.6%)	567 (29.6%)	4 (0.2%)	2 (0.1%)	3 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	11.1	410^th of 434 public high schools	5.5%		10.9	408^th of 429 public high schools	4.9%	2	58.9	26.1	9.5	15.7	4.0	0.0	3.8	20.0	18.9	$11,803	$142	$11,661
American History High School	Public	9-12	74 Montgomery St	Newark	07103	Essex County	Newark Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 733-7333	386	35	11.0	78.5%	5 (1.3%)	197 (51.0%)	174 (45.1%)	4 (1.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.0%)	14.6	391^st of 434 public high schools	9.9%		15.9	379^th of 429 public high schools	11.7%	12	70.1	28.6	2.6	16.3	4.7		4.7			$11,890	$624	$11,266
West Side High School	Public	9-12	403 South Orange Avenue	Newark	07103	Essex County	Newark Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 733-7019	541	44	12.4	81.1%	2 (0.4%)	436 (80.6%)	96 (17.7%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.7%)	15.2	387^th of 434 public high schools	10.8%		9.7	411^th of 429 public high schools	4.2%	24	73.8	17.9	3.8	6.7	2.9		2.9			$14,251	$797	$13,454

Frequently Asked Questions about University High School

What is the racial makeup of University High School?

Students at University High School are 77% African American, 21% Hispanic.

What district is University High School in?

Newark Public School District

Is University High School a good school?

University High School ranks 233^rd of 434 New Jersey high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend University High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 426 students attended University High School.

Rate University High School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Jersey Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.