Union High School

Union Township is a suburban community located in Union County. Union has a population of approximately 56,000 and borders the Union County municipalities of Elizabeth, Hillside, Millburn, Roselle Park, Kenilworth and Springfield.  Union also shares a border with the Essex County communities of Irvington, Maplewood, and Millburn.  

Students may elect to participate in the nationally recognized CAST (Communication Arts and Sciences Training) program that offers an introduction to the broad field of television communications. Army Junior R.O.T.C. program in grades 9-12 is offered to all interested students. Our award-winning arts program provides a diverse range of course offerings in the areas of instrumental music, vocal music, musical theatre and visual arts. The high school also offers a Marketing Education Program with a cooperative education component.

The 130 credit requirement includes 20 in English, 20 in Physical Education/Health, 15 in Social Studies, 15 in Math, 15 in Science, 5 in Visual/Performing Arts, 5 in Career/Technical Arts, and 5 credits in World Languages.

Graduates: 556
Post High School Plans Four-Year College 55%
Two-Year College 28%, Full-time Employment 2%, Military 3%, Career and Technical 7%,
Among our recent graduates are students attending such prestigious institutions as Boston College, Boston University, Colgate, Columbia, Cornell, Drexel University, Duke, Emory University, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, N.Y.U., Princeton, Penn State, Smith, Stevens Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, U.S. Military Academy, U.S Air Force Academy, Villanova University, and Yale. The majority of our graduates remain in New Jersey, however, with approximately 15% of Union High School graduates attending Rutgers University, The College of New Jersey, or NJIT.


Advanced Placement Examinations 2018-2019
Students took a total of 178 exams and 73% scored a 3 or better. College Board's AP Program honored 18 students as AP Scholars.

Union High School excels equally in academic and non-academic extracurricular areas. More than twenty varsity sports are offered and Union's teams are consistently strong contenders. Union High School offers exceptional programs in music and art. Yearly musicals and performances of original plays highlight the Theater Arts programs. More than forty-five academic, special interest, and service related clubs provide students with an opportunity to develop their talents and leadership ability. Students compete successfully on the regional, state and national levels in oratory contests, competitive exams, academic, scientific, musical, and technical competitions.

Clubs/Student and Team Distinctions:

The Future Business Leaders of America Chapter was recognized at the regional, state and national levels. The UHS Chapter earned the Gold Chapter Award. Individual members earned Gold Member and Gold Officer Awards.

The Swing Choir has won annual nationwide competitions for the past fifteen consecutive years with 1st place - Gold-Superior ratings. Swing Choir placed in the top 5% throughout the United States and Canada and has performed in both Disneyland and Disney World.

The Union High School Marching Band and Color Guard is recognized on the local, regional, and national level. The band has won the prestigious Yamaha Cup at MetLife Stadium, winning caption awards for Best Visual Performance, Best Music and Best Overall Effect. The band has won awards for best Music Performance at the USBands National Championship. The band won the Group 3A New Jersey State Championship at the US Bands State competition and placed 2nd in the TOB Atlantic Coast championship. The band has competed at festival disney and marched at the head of the Main Street parade. Both the color guard and the marching band were awarded first place with superior ratings at numerous Heritage Festivals. Our performing groups were also awarded the Festival Sweepstakes Overall Championship Award and several students have won Festival solo awards.

Art students designed and created murals representing the school's diversity using grant money received from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.

Union's Army Junior R.O.T.C. unit is ranked in the top 5% nationwide and was designated as an Army Junior R.O.T.C. "Honor Unit With Distinction" for the 23rd consecutive year. The Army Junior R.O.T.C. Drill Team ranks first in New Jersey, second in the East Coast and eighth in the nation. The Color Guard ranks first in the state, second in the East Coast and fourth in the nation.

Among the staff of 250 professionals, many hold Master's Degrees and some hold Doctoral Degrees. Many have pursued graduate work beyond the Master's Degree. Ten counselors staff the School Counseling Department. Students are assigned a counselor in ninth grade and the counselor continues with the student for four years. Two Student Assistance Counselors (SAC) are also employed by the district and are based at the high school.