Pope John XXIII High School

I graduated from PJ, and like many schools, it has its good and its bad. Good: students, parents, and alumni really support the school, and it's hard to fall through the cracks. It's not as much of an academic pressure-cooker as some schools; while students are competitive, they are not cutthroat. There are some excellent, passionate, life-changing teachers. The sports problem is very good. Bad: lots of cliques, many of which formed in Rev. Brown and continued into HS. Sports get far too much attention; the arts get very little. Smart kids aren't always challenged; I took all honors/AP, graduated in the top 10%, was a total bookworm, and still felt underprepared for college. And I don't think the school is always honest with parents whose kids really aren't college material. I remember a few people who would have been far better off elsewhere. A couple took half-time classes at Tech. Somehow I doubt their parents paid half tuition for their PJ experience.
--Submitted by a student

Fantastic school. Some things to note about the April 23, 2010 review. All high schools and colleges due acceptance rates as they just stated. 550 SAT scores in each section beats out the averages of all other Catholic schools in northern NJ and the local public schools. Yes athletics are big, but they are big deal at almost eery school in the area. Sparta's school board was willing to cut teachers before sports programs, Pope John has managed to not have to cut teachers or sports. We have many people of different religious and economic backgrounds who do well here. There is a strong sense of community while at the public schools in the area it's more of a 'everyman for themselves' environment. Bottom line if you work hard and follow the rules and guidelines here you'll succeed anywhere. This school treats you like a college would, which helps a lot.
--Submitted by a student

An excellent school! I had the priviledge to be a teacher there for five years, and I am so blessed to have been in such a wonderful environment.

Your post from a PJ student on July 16,2008 was spot on! We are limited in Sussex County! PJ and REV.Brown are some of the only private schools around. If you are looking for better schools you really need to look in areas closer to the city. The quality gets much better and you have more schools to choose from.
--Submitted by a parent

My 17 year old is a senior at Pope John. When entering as a freshman he lacked focus and desire. Because of the excellent teachers and sports programs he has become a mature young man with a clear focus on college and his future. I have found the teachers are more caring than his experience in public school, plus the school instills a value system that I believe is not available in public high schools.
--Submitted by a parent

My kids have been to public and Pope John XXIII. They are very good students. When they left the public schools we were told they wouldn't be challenged but did not find that to be the case. First, Pope John offers at least 17 AP classes, one less than our top ranked local public school. It offers 7 foreign languages (public school doesn't come close). All my kids teachers were certified. Where is it lacking? music and theater. They do have a band and they put on plays, it's just not on the level of public schools. If it wasn't a good school, it wouldn't exist.
--Submitted by a parent

Parents who want their kids to strive for higher things should consider higher end schools. Pope John brags about a mediocre student life and a their 'technology' but the truth is the technology is hardly used and more often than not gets in the way. Pope John often smothers their students that don't fit their status quo with disciplinary action. Rules and regulations rule the school. With that discipline is well regulated yet sometimes bias towards certain sports. The teachers are some of the best around and if you are lucky enough to have the right ones they make the school above average. Options in the North Jersey area aren't that good but Pope John is no place for a exceptional student. Pope John is basically a public school with a tougher stance on discipline.
--Submitted by a student

PJ has some really caring teachers and a few good classes, but as far as college-prep schools go, it's average at best. It does do well by average students whose ambitions don't go much further than some small, middling Catholic college in PA, but smarter kids aren't really challenged, and kids who struggle often fall through the cracks.