Pope John Paul II High School

When will the new school open?
Construction of Pope John Paul II High School in Upper Providence Township will begin in June 2008, with an opening date of September 2010.  A second new Catholic high school is planned for Hilltown Township, Bucks County, with a projected opening date of 2012.

Where is Pope John Paul II High School located exactly?
The new high school is planned for a 92-acre tract at the intersection of Rittenhouse and Township Line Roads in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County.

When can students apply?
Information concerning enrollment for the current and the new school can be obtained by directly contacting St. Piux X High School and Kennedy-Kenrick High School.  Information will also be sent out to prospective students in Archdiocesan elementary schools, religious education programs and the general public as we approach our 2010 opening.

What will Pope John Paul II High School offer students?
Pope John Paul II High School will be a state-of-the-art educational facility, offering the following resources:

·        More than 30 state-of-the-art classrooms;

·        Five science laboratories;

·        Three computer laboratories;

·        Library/media resource center;

·        Television studio;

·        A Fine Arts Center with two art studios and large choral and band studios;

·        432-seat cafeteria;

·        Large chapel;

·        1200-seat auditorium;

·        1000-seat main gymnasium;

·        Auxiliary gymnasium & fitness center;

·        Six competition-level sports fields;

·        Running track with all weather surface; and

·        Six competition-level tennis courts

Will the tuition for Pope John Paul II be the same as other Archdiocesan high schools?
Tuition has not been determined yet, but it will be higher due to the additional costs to operate this modern facility. A 2006 Archdiocesan feasibility survey regarding the new schools demonstrated that area parents would be willing to pay an increased tuition for state-of-the-art facilities. As with all of our Archdiocesan schools, tuition assistance will be made available to qualifying students.

What is the projected enrollment for Pope John Paul II High School?
Projected enrollment is more than 1,000 students.  However, the school has a capacity of 1,200 students and can be further expanded through the construction of an addition, which would expand the facility to accommodate up to 1,600 students.

What school districts will provide transportation to the new schools?
Students within a 10-mile radius of Pope John Paul II High School will receive bus transportation by their respective school districts. In the event that a school district does not provide busing, the Archdiocese will evaluate solutions for transportation on a district-by-district basis.

What will be the cost of building the new school?  Where is the money coming from?
The total project cost for Pope John Paul II High School is expected to be approximately $65 million, which includes construction costs, contingencies, professional service fees, furniture, road construction, and financing during construction. Financing for the two new schools is expected to come from three major sources: 1) tax-exempt bonds; 2) an upcoming capital campaign and 3) revenue from the sale of old school buildings.

This is a significant investment in two new schools.  What improvements are being done in the existing Archdiocesan high schools?
There is currently a substantial effort being made to renovate other high school facilities. Much of this work has been made possible by the successful Legacy of Faith capital campaign.

In Philadelphia, one major project recently completed was the replacement of roofing and windows at Cardinal Dougherty, John W. Hallahan, St. Hubert, Father Judge and Little Flower High Schools.  Additionally, new locker rooms were constructed at SS. John Neumann & Maria Goretti High Schools. Father Judge and Roman Catholic High Schools also added new multi –million dollar buildings to their campuses.

In the suburbs, a $4 million multi-year window replacement program began last summer at Cardinal O’Hara High School, which also has a brand new auditorium. Two million dollars was invested into new athletic fields at Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School. Additionally, Bishop Shanahan High School received a new stadium and window and roofing projects were completed at Conwell-Egan and Bishop McDevitt High Schools.

There have been a number of classroom enhancements to positively affect classroom instruction. These include new art rooms and science labs at Bishop McDevitt, new science labs at Archbishop Ryan, a new technology center and library renovations at Northeast Catholic, and classroom makeovers at almost every school.   The use of technology in the classroom has increased so rapidly that the Internet bandwidth to the schools will be increased by 700% this coming summer at all schools.

Which architectural firm created the renderings for these projects?  Has a builder been selected?  If so, who is the builder for each site?
L. Robert Kimball & Associates of Philadelphia was chosen to create the original designs for both the Upper Providence Township and Hilltown Township sites. EDiS Company of Wilmington, Delaware has been selected as the construction manager for the school.

Where can I get more information about these new schools?
The Archdiocese is committed to keeping the community involved and informed as these new schools are built. Up-to-date information specifically on Pope John Paul II High School can be found at www.pjphs.org. News on all Archdiocesan schools is available at  www.keepingfaithinmind.org. As the construction begins, the community will be invited to participate in many events surrounding the new schools.