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Newark Unified: Newark Unified schools score 6.8 points below the state average. The trajectory from grade 3 to 5 falls 3.3 points.

Below Average2024–25 data8 schools · avg 38.0/100

Newark Unified has 8 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 38.0/100 — 6.8 points below the state average of 44.8. The highest-scoring school is Newark Memorial High at 54/100, where 16.3% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,659 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 29.4%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.

Avg Scope Score
38.0
State avg: 44.8
SchoolScope composite
Score Range
42.3
12.1 – 54.4
Avg Exceeded %
19.0%
State avg: 21.3%
Chronic Absenteeism
29.4%
State avg: 17.9%
Schools Ranked
8
With Scope Scores
LevelAvg ScoreSchoolsExceededAbsent
ElementaryDeveloping
40.0/100
523.1%32.1%
MiddleDeveloping
38.1/100
120.4%17.3%
HighDeveloping
33.2/100
28.1%28.8%

Newark Unified's elementary schools average 40.0/100 — 4.9 points below the state average with a −3.3pp declining trajectory.

K–12 pipeline

The typical school path in Newark Unified, top-scoring shown first.

Elementary
40.0
avg score · 5 schools
+2 more elementary schools
Middle
38.1
avg score · 1 school
Newark Middle
Developing
38/100
High
33.2
avg score · 2 schools
Bridgepoint High
Needs Support
12/100

District Analysis

Newark Unified has 8 ranked schools with an average Scope Score of 38.0/100 — 6.8 points below the state average of 44.8 (CDE CAASPP 2025).

Strongest level: Newark Unified's elementary schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 40.0.

District-wide elementary growth averages -3.3pp (state avg: -2.9pp) — a declining trend worth examining school by school.

Score range of 42.3 points — showing significant variation between schools.

District chronic absenteeism averages 29.4%, 11.5pp above the state average of 17.9%.

District suspension rate averages 3.1%, near the state average of 1.6%.

Newark Memorial High leads the district at 54 with 16.3% exceeding standard.

How we score · Scope Score methodology

Student demographics

Hispanic
54.4%
White
8.5%
Asian
15.2%
Black
3.2%
Other
18.7%
Free/Reduced Lunch
45%
Economic need indicator · district avg

District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data

District Funding

Newark Unified spends $12,659 per student in current expenditures — $2,156 below the state average of $14,815.

Per-Pupil Spending
$12,659
State avg: $14,815
District Enrollment
5,507
Students for funding calc
2016–2020 Trend
↑ 6.6%
$11,877 → $12,659
Spending Efficiency
3.01
Scope Score per $1K spent
Spending Breakdown
Instruction 58%Support 39%Other 3%
NCES F-33 Finance · District-level data — not school-specific

Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020

Teacher compensation

Salary Range
$76,368–$132,475
District schedule · CA median ~$98K
Teaching Staff
201
Full-time equivalent teachers

CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25

For the data nerds

Every school in Newark Unified

ranked by Scope Score · 2024–25 CAASPP

Elementary Schools (5)

Newark Unified has 5 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 40.0 — 4.9 points below the state average of 44.8.

Growth averages -3.3pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring elementary school is Lincoln Elementary with a Scope Score of 52 and 30.2% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Lincoln Elementary
Newark Unified Building Momentum
30.2%Solid
52/100
2Birch Grove Intermediate
Newark Unified Building Momentum
35.0%Solid
51/100
3John F. Kennedy Elementary
Newark Unified Building Momentum
29.7%Developing
47/100
4Coyote Hills Elementary
Newark Unified Building Momentum
16.6%Developing
33/100
5August Schilling Elementary
Newark Unified Building Momentum
4.1%Needs Support
17/100

Middle Schools (1)

Newark Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 38.1 — 4.5 points below the state average of 42.6.

Growth averages -12.6pp district-wide — a declining trend worth examining.

The highest-scoring middle school is Newark Middle with a Scope Score of 38 and 20.4% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Newark Middle
Newark Unified Building Momentum
20.4%Developing
38/100

High Schools (2)

Newark Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 33.2 — 10.5 points below the state average of 43.7.

The highest-scoring high school is Newark Memorial High with a Scope Score of 54 and 16.3% exceeding standard.

#SchoolExceededScore
1Newark Memorial High
Newark Unified Building Momentum
16.3%Solid
54/100
2Bridgepoint High
Newark Unified Building Momentum
0.0%Needs Support
12/100
Source: CDE CAASPP 2025 · 8 schoolsMethodology · Explore all schools

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology

Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.

What Scope Scores can't tell you about Newark Unified

Numbers tell you whether students are clearing the bar. A school visit tells you whether they're happy doing it. These metrics are intentionally missing from the Scope Score: class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality; arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs; teacher experience and turnover; campus safety and social-emotional support; parent and community engagement; quality of special education and gifted programs; how resources are distributed across schools within the district. Full methodology

Frequently asked questions

Is Newark Unified a good school district?
Newark Unified has 8 ranked schools averaging a Scope Score of 38.0/100, which is 6.8 points below the state average. 19.0% of students exceed the state standard on average. The Scope Score measures academic performance and school climate across seven dimensions. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025, analyzed by SchoolScope.
What is the best school in Newark Unified?
The highest-scoring school in Newark Unified is Newark Memorial High with a Scope Score of 54/100 and 16.3% exceeding standard. See methodology.
How much does Newark Unified spend per student?
Newark Unified spends $12,659 per student in current expenditures. The state average is $14,815. Spending data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data Fiscal Survey (F-33). Higher spending does not automatically mean better outcomes — the Scope Score measures what happens in the classroom regardless of budget.
What is the teacher salary range in Newark Unified?
Teacher salaries in Newark Unified range from $76,368–$132,475 based on the district's salary schedule (CDE Form J-90). The California statewide median teacher salary is approximately $98,000.
What does the Scope Score measure?
The Scope Score is SchoolScope's proprietary composite rating (0–100) based on seven dimensions of publicly available California school data: the exceeded-vs-met standard split, overall proficiency, grade-level growth, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, ELPAC English Learner proficiency, and baseline proficiency. Full methodology and weights.