[2] Union Grove ISD operates two schools: The earliest recorded school in the southern Upshur County, Texas, area was held at the home of pioneer settler, John O'Byrne, a former banker from Alabama.
Union Grove is known for its marching band program, under the helm of Mark Melton.
"Upshur County's Finest" has blown away the competition at many marching contests including the East Texas Yamboree marching contest in Gilmer, Texas, every October and the University Interscholastic League State Marching Contest, in which Union Grove has marched in three times, the most recent being the 2009 AA State Contest, in which Union Grove placed 8th, coming in behind the Regiment of Roughnecks Band from the neighboring White Oak Independent School District of White Oak, Texas by judges preference.
This marked a special feat for both White Oak and Union Grove, being the only two military style marching bands at the state contest.
In May, 2011, Mr. Melton announced he was leaving "the Grove" to take over as head band director at the much larger Pine Tree Independent School District in Longview, Texas, in August 2011.