The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hannah Caldwell Elementary
Hannah Caldwell Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fourth grade as a regular public school within the Township of Union School District. The school is situated in Union Township, an inner-ring suburb of Newark that mixes residential neighborhoods, industrial zones, and major retail corridors. The area hosts Kean University and is crisscrossed by highways such as the Garden State Parkway and Route 22, giving the community a car-oriented feel. The township has experienced steady population growth in recent years, and the housing market reflects that demand, with home values that have risen measurably over time.
The school is a sizable elementary building, enrolling a substantial number of students across its grade span. Its student body is racially and ethnically diverse. A notable share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with a significant range of household incomes. Data on students receiving special education services or English learner support was not available, which is a gap a parent may want to explore directly with the school.
State testing results on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment are available for third and fourth graders in both English language arts and mathematics. In third grade, a modest share of students scored at the proficient or above level in each subject, with fourth grade showing a similar pattern in English language arts and a somewhat lower share in mathematics. Compared with other schools in Union County, Hannah Caldwell Elementary’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint of the county’s districts. This is a softer performance picture, and a family considering the school may wish to discuss academic support and intervention strategies with the principal to understand how the school addresses student learning gaps.
Because the school serves only through fourth grade, there are no graduation rate data to report, and state testing is limited to the grades that are assessed. The data did not include chronic absenteeism figures or discipline records, so it is not possible to speak to attendance or behavioral climate from the available information.
The school’s parent district, Township of Union School District, has recently made several changes that affect Hannah Caldwell Elementary. A major reorganization plan, approved in early 2024 and fully implemented by fall 2025, changed grade configurations district-wide. Under the new structure, Jefferson School became a full prekindergarten through fifth-grade primary school, all other elementary buildings serve prekindergarten through fourth grade, and all sixth graders now attend the district’s two middle schools. As part of that reorganization, the district introduced expanded world language instruction, starting Spanish in all elementary schools for kindergarten through fourth grade beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. Separately, voters approved a capital referendum to fund facility upgrades including roof replacements, security vestibules, and HVAC improvements across all schools in the district, with projects being carried out over a period of time.
A parent considering Hannah Caldwell Elementary should factor in these district-level changes. The school’s grade configuration is now clearly set at prekindergarten through fourth, and students will move on to middle school after that. The new world language program is a concrete curricular addition. The facility improvements from the referendum may improve the school’s physical environment. On the academic side, the test results provide a baseline for conversation, especially for a family whose child may need additional support. The broader context of Union Township offers a dense suburban environment with access to transportation corridors, a university, and a mix of industrial and commercial employment, which may suit families who want proximity to the larger Newark region without living inside a major city.
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