Union Catholic School
Union Catholic School is a private, coeducational college preparatory Grades 9-12 Catholic day school in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, United States. The school has accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. It functions under the patronages of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.
The motto of Union Catholic School is to offer international students a quality education in a faith-based environment. The school prepares students for success in the real, virtual, and spiritual worlds, providing an unforgettable hands-on experience and extraordinary collaborations. The technology-driven, faith-based learning environment makes it a top-ranked Catholic high school in the state. That is why Union Catholic School is home to over 740 students from the US and around the world.
State Overview
Before discussing the peculiarities of Union Catholic School, it is worth learning more about its location. New Jersey is a northeastern state of the US. It borders New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The state has access to Delaware Bay, the Delaware River, and the Atlantic Ocean. Its total area is 22,591 km2, and its total population is 9,288,994 citizens. The capital of New Jersey is Trenton, but the most populous city is Newark.
The state is a major destination for immigrants. It has one of the most ethnically diverse and multicultural populations in the country. The main ethnoracial groups are English, Jews, Hispanics, Latinos, Indians, Chinese, Koreans, and Filipinos. The most spoken language is English, followed by Spanish, Indic, Chinese, Korean, and French.
The major sectors of New Jersey’s economy are biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, specialized agriculture, information technology, finances, and tourism. Indeed, the state is home to many fascinating tourist attractions. From national parks and historical sites, New Jersey is certainly worth exploring. Among the most popular tourist destinations are Boardwalk, Liberty State Park, the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, Island Beach State Park, Princeton Battlefield State Park, and Battleship New Jersey.
Location of the School
Union Catholic School has a 0.08 km2 campus in Scotch Plains, a township in Union County. The township is on a ridge in northern-central New Jersey, within the Raritan Valley and Rahway Valley. Its total area is 23.46 km2, and its total population is 24,274 citizens. The points of interest in the city are the Aunt Betty Frazee House, Osborn-Cannonball House Museum, the Stage House Inn, John’s Meat Market, Watchung Reservation, and Willow Grove Swim Club. During the study at Union Catholic School, international students have a chance to explore fascinating places in the town and the state.
School’s Facilities
Union Catholic School offers 22 varsity athletic programs in soccer, tennis, gymnastics, volleyball, cross country, cheerleading, basketball, swimming, track, bowling, softball, golf, lacrosse, and baseball. The athletes have access to fully equipped state-of-the-art training facilities, complete with the latest therapeutic and exercise equipment. The athletic complex also has a turf field for soccer, softball, baseball, and lacrosse, while a synthetic track surface serves for track and field. All students have access to a state-of-the-art weight room, as well as the golf course at the Shackamaxon Country Club.
Union Catholic School has an award-winning Arts Program. For instance, the Music Program allows music students to learn craft, theory, and performance by studying piano, string instruments, and music production. They can also join the concert choir or concert band. Overall, the Art Program helps international students nurture their artistic talents and encourages them to appreciate art.
Union Catholic School also hosts the Performing Arts Company, which dedicates itself to producing High school theater on a professional level. Students can work onstage, backstage, or on a creative team to help stage a variety of productions every year. The graduates continue their studies in theater, playwriting, and technical theatre at various colleges, including New York University, Carnegie Mellon, Drew University, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and the School of Visual Arts.
Union Catholic School is more than a faith-based environment. It is a community built on leadership, respect, and sharing. The campus-wide initiatives nurture compassion and social values and help students become all that God calls them to be. Some initiatives include School Masses, Social Justice, when students help people in need, and Days of Recollection when they explore their spirituality.
Different clubs at Union Catholic School also bring together like-minded students to share their passions, develop leadership skills, and learn the value of service. Among the most popular clubs are Academic Team, Human Dignity Club, Book Club, Service Club, and Community Outreach Club.
Overview of the Programs
Union Catholic School does not have a one-size-fits-all learning environment. The students embark on an individual, challenging, and rewarding journey. The school’s six learning levels focus on students’ strengths within a faith-based environment that encourages the faculty to teach as Jesus did. There are the following levels, from easy to difficult: Basic, Regular Adapted, Regular, Honors, Accelerated, and Advanced Placement (AP). Throughout the year, students can move between levels depending on their performance.
Incoming students that need academic support can join the Foundations Program. Upon its completion, international students move into the learning levels based on academic performance. Union Catholic School also offers ESL (English as a Second Language) classes to assist international students with language and cultural transition.
International students with superior academic records can join the Distinguished Scholars Program. It consists of Accelerated courses aimed to challenge students through an enriched curriculum and earn college credits. Except for the core curriculum, Union Catholic School offers progressive elective classes at the Honors and Accelerated levels: International Relations, Developmental Psychology, Biochemistry, Computer Networking, Philosophy, Engineering, Graphic Design, Studio Art, and Digital Journalism.
All AP courses at Union Catholic School are available for dual enrollment through Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Middle College Program. International students who complete these courses can transfer credit to the college of their choice. The arrangement with St. Thomas Aquinas College allows Honor Level students to study English 101 and 102 for high school and college credit. In addition, the collaboration with the Virtual High School offers 250 online courses, such as Veterinary Medicine, Screenwriting, and Latin.
Every student at Union Catholic School has a counselor who supports them throughout the study. The school counseling office offers comprehensive college advising, college field trips, and career counseling. Hence, the powerful integration of technology and curriculum at Union Catholic School has a comprehensive college preparatory education resulting in a 100% college admission rate. Graduates are accepted to Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Seton Hall University, Montclair State University, Penn State, and New York University, to name a few.
Admission Requirements
International students who decide to apply to Union Catholic School ought to follow several steps.
- They need to send the inquiry to the Admission Office.
- Prospective students must submit the International Student Application.
- They should provide the English Language Proficiency Test scores, such as the TOEFL Jr., TOEFL, iTEP, or SLEP.
- International students ought to submit a copy of the student’s academic records and their translation to English if needed. Official transcripts must be provided for each year in high school. Those who apply to Grade 9 need to submit transcripts from the last two academic years.
- Students should provide a copy of their birth certificate or passport.
- Parents ought to submit the student’s official immunization record and their translation to English if needed. International students must comply with immunization requirements for the state of New Jersey to study at Union Catholic School.
- Students need to pass an interview with the admission officer in person or virtually.
- The Union Catholic Admissions Department will notify international students of their admissions decision.
Tuition Fees for International Students
Considering Union Catholic School as the study destination, international students also should know its tuition fees. Parents need to be prepared to pay $30,610 per year. It includes tuition, laptop fee, laptop insurance fee, family fundraising fee, uniform fee, and international support services fee. Book fee depends on the student’s course choice and ranges between $250 and $325. In addition, students in Grade 12 ought to pay a senior fee of $600.
In case, if you need help with finding good school for your children in New Jersey, please fill in application below or contact us directly.
