Union High School (New Jersey)

Union High School is a comprehensive community public high school located in Union Township, in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as the lone secondary school of the Union Public School District.

The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1953.Union High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed February 10, 2022.

As of the 2024–25 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,410 students and 157.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.4:1. There were 1,012 students (42.0% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 223 (9.3% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.School data for Union High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed January 15, 2026.

History High school education in Union dates to 1881 when six students enrolled in classes. Classes were originally held in the Connecticut Farms School, and from 1895 to 1906, in the Unionville School as well. Union's first high school building was constructed on Morris Avenue in 1924 with expansions in 1928, 1948, and 1959. In December 1965, voters approved a $4 million referendum to expand and convert Burnet Junior High School, which opened in 1958, into a senior high school, thereby relieving overcrowding in the 1924 building. An additional $850,000, caused by cost increases and a labor dispute, was approved by voters in May 1967. After two years of construction, Union High School moved to the former Burnet building in September 1969, with Burnet Junior High School moving to the former high school building.

Awards, recognition and rankings In 2024, Union High School was ranked 227th among high schools in New Jersey by U.S. News & World Report."Union High School 2024 Rankings", U.S. News & World Report. Accessed February 18, 2025. "Union High School is ranked 227th within New Jersey. Students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement® coursework and exams."

The school was the 201st-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014. The school had been ranked 250th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 243rd in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 12, 2012. The magazine ranked the school 229th in 2008 out of 316 schools.Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed February 25, 2011. The school was ranked 210th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state."Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.

Union High School Performing Arts Company The Union High School Performing Arts Company (UHSPAC) includes a theatre department, an instrumental music program, and various choral music groups.Home Page, Union High School Performing Arts Company. Accessed November 25, 2019.

Musicals Union High School's theatre department, under the direction of James Mosser, produces two major theatrical productions annually and has been recognized numerous times by the Paper Mill Playhouse in their annual Rising Star Awards. In 2010, the UHSPAC's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat received the Rising Star Award for Best Overall Production, Best Director, Best Music Direction and Best Chorus; winning more awards than any other school in the state.2010 RECIPIENTS as presented at the 15th Annual Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 , Paper Mill Playhouse, June 8, 2010. Accessed July 10, 2011. "Rising Star Award Outstanding Overall Production Union High School Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" UHSPAC's 2013 production of Cats was nominated for 14 Rising Star Awards and won five, the second-most of any school in the state, including awards for Outstanding Chorus, Outstanding Choreography/Musical Staging, and Outstanding Orchestra. Also in 2015, the UHSPAC production of "Sophisticated Ladies" was nominated for 16 Rising Star Awards, winning nine of them, the most in the 20-year history of the Rising Star Awards. Of those nine included: Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical, Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role, Outstanding Musical Direction. The UHSPAC came home with more awards than any other school in the state. In 2018 their production of Peter Pan won best musical at the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising star Awards, making their third best musical win."Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn announces 2013 Rising Star Award winners", Independent Press, June 9, 2013. Accessed June 9, 2013. "Summit High School took home six Rising Star Awards, more awards than any other school in the state. Union High School won five awards, and Jackson Memorial High School and Gill St. Bernard's School took home two awards each."

Marching Band The Union High School Marching Band consists of wind, percussion, and color guard members. The band performs at all school football games and competes in many USBands and Tournament of Bands (TOB) competitions located in the New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania area. At the 2012 Yamaha Cup, with their show entitled, "Rosie", the marching band won 1st place in Group 4A competition and received the awards for Best Music, Best Visual, and Best Overall Effect. In 2014 with their show entitled, "Soaring", the marching band won 1st place in the USBANDS Group 3A New Jersey state championship at Rutgers University and received the award for Best Overall Effect. Also in 2014, the band won 1st place at the USBands Group 3A National Championships in Allentown, Pennsylvania. They took home the awards for Best Guard, Best Music, and Best Visual.Yamaha Cup10/13/2012East Rutherford, NJ, USBANDS, October 13, 2012. Accessed June 8, 2013.

Athletics The Union High School FarmersUnion High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. compete in the Union County Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Union County and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. Prior to the NJSIAA's 2010 realignment, the school had participated in the Watchung Conference, a high school sports association which included public high schools in Essex, Hudson and Union counties., Watchung Conference, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 7, 2011. Accessed December 16, 2014. With 1,618 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,060 to 5,049 students in that grade range.NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020. The football team competes in Division 5A of the Big Central Football Conference, which includes 60 public and private high schools in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, Union and Warren counties, which are broken down into 10 divisions by size and location.Kinney, Mike. "Big Central revises 2020 football schedule for its shortened inaugural season", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 12, 2020. Accessed April 18, 2021. "The newly formed Big Central Football Conference has released a revised 2020 schedule for its inaugural season.... the BCFC is comprised of schools from Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties." The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group V North for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 1,317 to 5,409 students.NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.

Together with David Brearley High School, the school participates in a cooperative ice hockey program with Jonathan Dayton High School as the host school / lead agency, under an agreement scheduled to expire at the end of the 2023–24 school year.NJSIAA Winter Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.

The boys spring / outdoor track team won the Group III state championship in 1930 and 1931, won the Group II title in 1933, and won in Group IV in 1973.NJSIAA Boys Spring Track Summary of Group Titles, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.

The boys' cross country team won the overall Public B title in 1931 and the overall state championship in 1943.NJSIAA Boys Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.

The boys tennis team won the overall state championship in 1959 (against runner-up Teaneck High School in the final match of the tournament) and 1960 (vs. Ridgewood High School).History of Boys Team Tennis Championship Tournament, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020. The 1959 team won the state title after defeating previously undefeated River Dell High School 3-0 in the quarterfinals and Ridgewood High School 2-1 in the semis before knocking off Teaneck 2-1 in the final round of the tournament."Union High Is Winner Of State Tennis Crown; Stops Teaneck, 2-1, In Final After Beating River Dell, Ridgewood", The Record, June 1, 1959. Accessed February 24, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "With defending champion Ridgewood eliminated in the semifinals, Teaneck High School unexpectedly found itself in the championship match of the thirteenth annual New Jersey State Interscholastic A. A. tennis tournament Saturday afternoon at Princeton University. The Highwaymen, however, fared no better than Ridgewood as it, too, fell victim to a strong Union High club, bowing 2 to 1.... On Friday it crushed third-seeded River Dell Regional of Oradell. 3-0. River Dell was unbeaten during the regular season. Saturday morning it disposed of Ridgewood, 2-1, with the Oehrlein brothers, Rich and Walt, providing the winning margin with victories over Tucker Wolf and Steve Caldwell in the singles."

The boys' bowling team won the overall state championship in 1966, 1968 and 1986. The program's three state titles are tied for seventh-most in the state.History of NJSIAA Boys Bowling Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 1, 2022.

The baseball team won the Group IV state championship in 1972 (vs. Ewing High School), 1974 (vs. Sayreville High School) and 2002 (vs. Jackson Memorial High School).Baseball Championship History: 1959–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.

The boys track team won the winter track Meet of Champions in 1973.NJSIAA Winter Track Previous Team Meet of Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.