📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NJSLA 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
All 20 Rated Districts in Union County, NJ
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New Providence Borough School District | New Providence | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #2 | Mountainside Borough School District | Mountainside | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #3 | Summit Public Schools | Summit | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #4 | Westfield Public Schools | Westfield | 10/10 Excellent | 91st |
| #5 | Berkeley Heights Township School District | Berkeley Heights | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #6 | Cranford Township School District | Cranford | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #7 | Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District | Scotch Plains | 9/10 Excellent | 82nd |
| #8 | Clark Township School District | Clark | 8/10 Good | 73rd |
| #9 | Springfield Township School District | Springfield | 7/10 Good | 69th |
| #10 | Garwood Borough School District | Garwood | 7/10 Good | 62nd |
| #11 | Kenilworth Borough School District | Kenilworth | 5/10 Average | 40th |
| #12 | Winfield Township School District | Winfield Twp | 4/10 Below Average | 34th |
| #13 | Roselle Park Borough School District | Roselle Park | 4/10 Below Average | 33rd |
| #14 | Union Township School District | Union | 4/10 Below Average | 33rd |
| #15 | Elizabeth City School District | Elizabeth | 3/10 Below Average | 27th |
| #16 | Hillside Township School District | Hillside | 3/10 Below Average | 25th |
| #17 | Rahway City School District | Rahway | 3/10 Below Average | 20th |
| #18 | Linden City School District | Linden | 2/10 Poor | 12th |
| #19 | Roselle Borough School District | Roselle | 1/10 Poor | 7th |
| #20 | Plainfield City School District | Plainfield | 1/10 Poor | 6th |
Best School Districts in Union County, New Jersey (2026)
This page lists the 20 public school districts headquartered in Union County, New Jersey that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using NJSLA 2024–25 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in New Jersey, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in Union County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in Union County, New Jersey? ▼
Among the 20 rated districts in Union County, New Jersey, the highest-rated is New Providence Borough School District (New Providence), rated 10/10 (Excellent) and in the 97th percentile of New Jersey districts on NJSLA 2024–25 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NJSLA 2024–25), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in New Jersey and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.