John Paul II High School

I transferred to John Paul this year, and can honestly say that this is in no way a college prep school. The kids are slackers who aspire to do nothing but the bare minimum required of them, the faculty and staff cater to this mindset and discourage the hardworking students from setting high goals for themselves, and the work is all useless busy work. This year, even though I have always worked very hard in school, I have become lazier because of the pervasive careless attitude in the school as well as because of the lack of challenging curriculum. Additionally, the school has anything but the "family feeling" they talk about so much: the students are very clique-ish and talk to no one outside of their social groups. The kids are not motivated at all; their parents are mostly helicopter parents who constantly speak with their kids' teachers trying to make their kids pass. This school is a waste and is not worth the tuition at all. It's a huge investment, only to have most of the grads go to schools like Arkansas and Tech, because better colleges recognize that the school is not a good one. You'd get the same education in Plano or Frisco public schools for free.
—Submitted by a student

Been there since the beginning...2 kids graduated from JPII and 3 more to come. Wouldn't choose any other school for our kids!!!
—Submitted by a parent

I attended John Paul II High School and graduated in the class of 2011. I entered John Paul as a shy freshman who was looking for an identity and John Paul helped me find that. MY classmates were very nice and a wide range of classes are offered to find the classes that most interest me. I matured quicker and learned the the value of time management. Thanks to John Paul II, I currently attend the University of California Berkeley with an intent to go into the business school. I greatly appreciate John Paul II HS because they truly prepped for the difficulties of college and taught me the study habits I needed to know for college.
—Submitted by a student

We loved this school. Our child was not going to make it to high school graudation. He always struggled with his classes and his teachers. If we did not have JP2, I do not know where we would be now. He attended there and fit right in. He is graduating this year and it is a day I never thought we would see. I highly recommend this school for any child who is at-risk.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent of a graduate I would like to say that my experience at JPII was awesome! I had children graduate from 2 other top catholic schools so I had plenty to compare with. I feel my daughter was challenged in all areas. I feel that the staff was well qualified. My daughter had a high school experience that we all want for our children... not all fun and games either! She took with her skills and foundations that have made her experience in college easier than many students from other institutions have expressed. As far as seeking colleges and universities in distant states many of these kids choose to stay close to home. It is not that they are not qualified or properly prepared educational wise to go there. There is a very tight family feel that these kids develop amongst each other that often dictates their choices. The sky is the limit! Go for it!!
—Submitted by a parent

it's easy to get sucked into the pitch but when you judge this school objectively it falls woefully short. 1. SAT Scores below public school averages (JPII SES should automatically get them higher) 2. Core curriculum fails to prepare kids for advanced education 3. ask them what colleges their students end up going to (mostly Arkansas!) 4. high teacher turnover 5. Catechism (re-branded as Theology), and I'm catholic too 6. lots of homework as a mechanism to learn, not teaching -- think about that one because you won't realize until your child is halfway through sophomore year. The school environment is awesome however and the zero tolerance policy on drugs and alcohol is what it should be so it's not a total loss here. But if you want your child to be able to go somewhere better than Arkansas, and be able to afford it because you didn't waste your money
—Submitted by a parent

Absolutely Fantastic describes this school! My child is now a Sophomore at JPII and excelled his Freshman year as well as this year so far. I was concerned about the laptops because I had heard they were either not used or were a distraction. My child uses the laptop to complete homework even when away from home. Within Freshman year while home sick from school my child was able to log into the classroom during class time and see exactly what the teacher was teaching and was able to complete the assignment. My child uses the laptop to the full extent while at school and to complete homework. My childs counselor started speaking to him the middle of his Freshman year regarding his college choices based on what he wanted to study in college and what his grades were in high school. My child has received great direction and I belive will be extremely prepared for college. i do know students that have left JPII for other schools and they left because the student caused problems and were asked to leave or just could not handle the rigerous workload and high expectations the school has. JPII's adademic standards are high and continue to ruise every year.
—Submitted by a parent

Its a good school with good teachers. Academically it can get intense especially if you are taking AP classes but manageable. Most of the teachers are great especially the AP ones and all of the teachers try to help best they can. One of the only complaints is the technology push. They like to advertise that they are a laptop driven school when in reality most of the classes don't use them as much as they should. They do a great job with helping with college choices and admissions. The counselors are great with working and building a relationship with the students. All in all the past graduates say they felt prepared for college and i feel that i will be prepared when i graduate.
—Submitted by a student

I'm going to be a sophomore this year at JPII and I can honestly say that I couldn't ask for a better high school.Freshman year I drove an hour and a half every single day. If this doesn't tell you something, then reading the rest of this review is pointless. The teachers genuinely care about you. If you take the initiative to ask for help or attend tutorials, your teacher will do anything (short of going to your house) to teach you and help you. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a high class education and a lovely learning environment.
—Submitted by a student

I went to Plano I.S.D schools before here. When I walked into it I could tell it was already better. People were nicer and the staff was way more concerned about the student body then my old teachers. There's a stronger sense of community in this school I like. It has a large variety of AP classes that are good for college. However the laptops prove distracting and dim focus, even though we're being monitored, some kids get away with playing games when the teacher isn't looking.
—Submitted by a student

I'm an alum of John Paul II, Class of 2010. Left with a ton of AP/college credit and I had my pick of colleges with academic scholarships. Any parent saying public school is better than JP2 - your child must keep you in the dark about JP2, or is unwilling to work and wants a scapegoat. I attended public school for a year before transferring to JP2. My public school friends had few college plans compared to my classmates and myself. JP2 sends over 98% of seniors to college every year. Most of my college friends who went to public school are overwhelmed by course loads; many have dropped out already. I've been completely prepared because I'm used to the work. I was on the Dean's List my first year as a Pre-Med student. JP2's curriculum is rigorous and asks a lot, but they make no apologies. You WILL succeed in college. The teachers here also care about you. I have received more support personally and academically than I can ever thank them for. Petty complaints about sports and cliques are bad reasons for keeping your child from this great education. What's really important is preparation for college and academics. John Paul II is by far one of the best private schools in Dallas.
—Submitted by a student

For my child with learning disabilites, this school was great. It was not too challenging, he had a lot of fun and made friends, something that has always been hard for him. But for my academic child, who is a year younger, the school just was not a good fit. The classes really are made to keep the children happy, therefore, keep the parents happy. I would consider this school for the kind of child who might not graduate otherwise. But classtime was too much playtime for a serious student to get much out of it. My son was happy though!
—Submitted by a parent

As the parent of a freshman (just finished finals) I will tell you that my overall impression of JPII is positive and worth the money. It stacks up against the Plano High Schools, not just East and Senior but also West in all areas but fine arts and sports. The teachers are inconsistent. Some are world class, some just really like their subject, but are so-so teachers, but all care deeply for their students and will bend over backwards to help them attain their best. My child is pre-AP so the experience was more academically focused, with less exposure to clich s. There is some feeling of haves and have-nots so if your child does not have a strong sense of self any Plano school might be hard, but especially a private school like JPII.
—Submitted by a parent

As a student at John Paul i can say all of the people who say there is no contact between teachers and parents did not give the school enough of a chance. My family has troubble paying for the high tuition but it is well worth it. I love the enviornment and all the technology in this school. Our teachers are great and i can honestly say i look forward to going to school every day.
—Submitted by a student

I have been a teacher at JPII HS for five years. The best recommendation I can give is that I am saving money to help my grand children attend this school in the future, but I suspect that any superlatives I mention about the school will be viewed with suspicion and appear self-serving. Let me provide an objective fact that can easily be verified. As a new starting school JPII HS competes in the 'small' school category during the annual Academic Decathlon. A few months ago during the 2010 regional contest JPII HS took first place competing against small schools. However, had they competed against the large 5A schools, who were at the same competition, they would still be in first place. They continued to win the Texas State Championship and are now preparing to compete at nationals.
—Submitted by a teacher

Withdrew our son after one semester. With as much as we were paying, we thought he'd be getting an amazing, college prep-education. Plano ISD, Richardson ISD and Frisco ISD's public schools are much better than this waste.
—Submitted by a parent

Sending your child to this school is a waste of the money. It seems that some of the teachers were no better then the ones in public school. Students are not treated equally by some of the teachers. As a parent, I would expect my child receives a better education and attention at John Paul II but I was very disappointed. There are very few communications between teachers and parents. Unless your child tells you what is going on in the school, you don't hear much from the teachers. The $1800 laptop price is way too high compare the market price of laptops.
—Submitted by a parent

Not only teaches, also educates!
—Submitted by a parent

as a former student i can honestly say it was an amazing experience and i believe it is an amazing school. 5 stars. the teachers are truly there to teach and not to just get paid. i am now a proud allumni if Jp2 and i am attending princton university. Jp2 has well prepared me for the rest of my life.

Our son has just finished 4 years at JPII. It has been a most amazing experience not only for him but for our entire family. If you are willing to be involved in your child's life, you will find many wonderful families who will become friends for life. Our son excelled academically, athletically and spiritually at JPII. We have been blessed to have been a part of the beginning of this high school. Mr. Poore is an outstanding, dedicated leader who has made this school possible. There have been, and continue to be, many generous parents who have given of their time, treasure and talents to get to this point. The laptops are a reality of life and many public school friends are envious of the fact our child has been exposed to technology at this level. We highly recommend JPII!
—Submitted by a parent