Summary:
The Union City School District in New Jersey's 07087 zip code is home to two high schools: Union City High School and Jose Marti STEM Academy. While both schools have similar graduation and dropout rates, Jose Marti STEM Academy stands out as a high-performing institution, ranking 14th out of 434 New Jersey high schools and earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger, in contrast to Union City High School's 1-star rating and 315th ranking.
Jose Marti STEM Academy boasts significantly higher proficiency rates on state assessments compared to Union City High School and the district/state averages. For instance, in the 2024-2025 school year, 97.7% of 9th graders at Jose Marti were proficient in English Language Arts, compared to 55% at Union City High and 49.9% statewide. Similarly, Jose Marti outperforms the other school and district/state in math, with 73.4% of 9th graders proficient in Algebra I and 86.8% of 11th graders proficient in Mathematics.
The performance gap between the two schools may be attributed to factors such as higher spending per student ($12,231 at Jose Marti vs. $9,632 at Union City High) and a lower student-teacher ratio (10.1 at Jose Marti vs. 17 at Union City High). Both schools serve a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population, with over 70% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The district should further investigate the successful practices at Jose Marti STEM Academy and explore ways to replicate them across the district, ensuring equitable access to high-quality education for all students.
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