The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Union Hill Middle School
Union Hill Middle School sits in the heart of Union City, a densely packed urban municipality of less than two square miles that was formed by merging Union Hill and West Hoboken. The school's name preserves the older place identity. Serving only seventh and eighth grades, this is a stand-alone middle school within the Union City School District, and it operates as a regular public school.
The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, reflecting the broader community's strong Cuban-American heritage and the city's nickname "Havana on the Hudson." Enrollment is roughly balanced between the two grades. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a high-poverty context. Data on students with Individualized Education Programs and English learners was not available in the source material, so a parent wanting to understand the full range of special populations served here should ask the school directly.
Academically, Union Hill Middle School shows a clear division between subjects. On the state's NJSLA assessments, English language arts results are a genuine strength. Both seventh and eighth graders reached a rate of proficiency that places the school solidly above what many middle schools in similar settings achieve. That is the headline for anyone evaluating this school's core academic work.
Math tells a more mixed story. Seventh-grade math proficiency falls below the school's own ELA mark by a wide margin, while eighth-grade math is stronger and sits closer to the midpoint of performance. The math results are somewhat uneven across the two grades, and a parent may want to investigate how the school addresses math instruction and support for students who enter below grade level.
Science presents a sharp concern. On the eighth-grade science assessment, only a very small share of students met the proficiency standard. This is a soft spot that stands out against the school's stronger ELA outcomes. It is worth asking the school how science is taught and whether there are gaps in lab access, curriculum, or instructional time that might explain the result.
Looking at the broader picture within Hudson County, the school's overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint among the county's school districts. That places Union Hill Middle School in a solid middle ground compared with its neighbors, neither at the top nor struggling at the bottom.
The district itself is in the middle of a significant capital expansion. A new Esther Salas Academy for grades seven through nine is under construction and expected to open soon. This is a major facility investment that will reshape the middle-grade experience and relieve overcrowding. Separately, the district's José Martí STEM Academy, a magnet school, received National Blue Ribbon recognition in 2022, signaling a specialized STEM-focused public option within the district for families who want it.
The school is embedded in a dense urban grid with numbered streets, commercial corridors like Bergenline Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard, and an active street life supported by very high population density. There is no separate campus; the school sits within the fabric of multi-family buildings and retail. Washington Park anchors the southern edge of the city. Housing values in the area have risen modestly in recent years, and rents have followed a similar trend. The city's population grew through the 2010s but may have leveled off slightly since, and with no vacant land for expansion, any new housing or school facilities come through redevelopment.
For a family considering Union Hill Middle School, the core picture is this. English instruction is a clear strength, math is variable, and science is weak enough that a family should look into it carefully. The student population is very homogeneous in ethnic composition and economically disadvantaged at a high rate. The district is investing in new infrastructure, and there is a STEM magnet option for those who qualify. This school fits a family that values a strong English language arts foundation, is comfortable with the realities of a dense urban setting, and is prepared to be an active partner in addressing gaps in math and science.
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