Catholic School CompassTrue north for Catholic families.
Aerial view of John Paul II Catholic High School
Aerial imagery: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). USGS

Catholic high school

John Paul II Catholic High School

  • LocationAvondale, AZ
  • Type and sizeDiocesan school · Grades 9–12 · 370 students
  • SponsorDominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (Nashville)
Official website

St. John Paul II Catholic High School in Avondale, Arizona is a college-preparatory Catholic high school in the Diocese of Phoenix, opened in 2018 and led by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. The school's pages describe daily prayer, a four-year ethics and philosophy program, a school chaplain, and a mission to encounter Jesus Christ through prayer, study, community and service. The pages reviewed publish no school Mass, confession, adoration or retreat schedule.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of John Paul II Catholic High School, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint Thomas Aquinas Catholic: 0.2 mi1Saint John Vianney Catholic Church: 2.7 mi2John Paul II Catholic High School (campus)N2 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic — 0.2 mi · 13720 West Thomas Road, Avondale
  2. Saint John Vianney Catholic Church — 2.7 mi · 539 East La Pasada Boulevard, Goodyear

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Faith scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ASacramental life: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Sacramental life

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    All-school or class Masses during the school yearNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Daily Mass available to students on campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Confession offered to students during the school yearNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolYes (Fr. Kevin Penkalski is listed as the school's Chaplain on the Management Team page.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Management Team | St. John Paul II Catholic High Schooljp2catholic.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4387378&type=d&pREC_ID=2602270 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. Kevin Penkalski Chaplain”
      Fr. Kevin Penkalski is listed as the school's Chaplain.
N/ATheology and curriculum: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Theology and curriculum

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Years of theology or religion requiredNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Theology courses follow the USCCB Curriculum FrameworkNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Philosophy, apologetics, or ethics course offeredYes (The school's Ethics and Culture program is a four-year philosophy program that includes The Human Person, Principles of Ethics and Bioethics.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Academic Departments | St. John Paul II Catholic High Schooljp2catholic.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4387462&type=d&pREC_ID=2595533 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “This four-year philosophy program equips students with the principles needed to understand the dignity of the human person”
      The school offers a four-year Ethics and Culture philosophy program.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Faith integrated across the curriculum (stated in the program of studies or mission)Yes (The mission page presents the goal to impart a Catholic worldview through the curriculum as part of how the school evangelizes. The page quotes Bishop Thomas Olmsted.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Mission | St. John Paul II Catholic High Schooljp2catholic.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4387378&type=d&pREC_ID=2595426 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “to impart a Catholic worldview through the curriculum (study)”
      The mission page lists imparting a Catholic worldview through the curriculum as part of how a Catholic school evangelizes.
N/ACampus culture: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Campus culture

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    RetreatsNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Campus ministry staffOne (One professional ministry staff member is listed: the school chaplain.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Management Team | St. John Paul II Catholic High Schooljp2catholic.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4387378&type=d&pREC_ID=2602270 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. Kevin Penkalski Chaplain”
      Fr. Kevin Penkalski is listed as the school's Chaplain.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Faith-based student groups or clubsNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Daily prayer and liturgical life built into the school dayYes (The home page says the school offers daily prayer as part of student life.)
    Sources (1)
    1. St. John Paul II Catholic High Schooljp2catholic.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Athletic programs, service opportunities, daily prayer and a house system foster growth”
      The school's home page lists daily prayer among the student experiences it offers.
N/AService and Catholic social teaching: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Service and Catholic social teaching

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Required service hoursNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic social teaching taught in theology coursesNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Pro-life engagement (club, March for Life, or similar)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Not enough information: not found in official sources.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • A priest, Fr. Kevin Penkalski, is listed as the school's Chaplain.
    Sources (1)
    1. Management Team | St. John Paul II Catholic High Schooljp2catholic.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4387378&type=d&pREC_ID=2602270 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. Kevin Penkalski Chaplain”
      Fr. Kevin Penkalski is listed as the school's Chaplain.
  • The school is led by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, and its mission is to encounter Jesus Christ through prayer, study, community and service.
    Sources (2)
    1. St. John Paul II Catholic High Schooljp2catholic.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Led by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia of Nashville”
      The school is led by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia of Nashville.
    2. Mission | St. John Paul II Catholic High Schooljp2catholic.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4387378&type=d&pREC_ID=2595426 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “to impart a Catholic worldview through the curriculum (study)”
      The mission page lists imparting a Catholic worldview through the curriculum as part of how a Catholic school evangelizes.
  • A four-year ethics and philosophy program is part of the curriculum.
    Sources (1)
    1. Academic Departments | St. John Paul II Catholic High Schooljp2catholic.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4387462&type=d&pREC_ID=2595533 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “This four-year philosophy program equips students with the principles needed to understand the dignity of the human person”
      The school offers a four-year Ethics and Culture philosophy program.

Concerns

  • Service hours are not among the graduation requirements listed on the Mission page.
    Sources (1)
    1. Mission | St. John Paul II Catholic High Schooljp2catholic.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4387378&type=d&pREC_ID=2595426 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Graduation Requirements Religion 4 Credits Ethics 2 Credits English 4 Credits”
      The graduation requirements list four credits of Religion and two of Ethics.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

School chaplaincy, St. John Paul II Catholic High School

  • Address: 3120 N. 137th Ave, Avondale, AZ 85392
  • Location: On campus

Source: jp2catholic.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, jp2catholic.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

3 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 0 off campus, 3 location not published

Faith formation 1

  • Daily prayer
    The school's home page lists daily prayer as part of student life.
    jp2catholic.org

Service 1

  • National Honor Society service
    The National Honor Society chapter serves at places including Andre House and St. Mary's Food Bank.
    jp2catholic.org

Social life 1

  • House system and feast-day celebrations
    Houses celebrate feast days of Our Lady and build community through service.
    jp2catholic.org

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Campus ministry

Sources (2)
  1. Management Team | St. John Paul II Catholic High Schooljp2catholic.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4387378&type=d&pREC_ID=2602270 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Fr. Kevin Penkalski Chaplain”
    Fr. Kevin Penkalski is listed as the school's Chaplain.
    “Fr. Kevin Penkalski Chaplain”
    Fr. Kevin Penkalski is listed as the school's Chaplain.
  2. St. John Paul II Catholic High Schooljp2catholic.org · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “3120 N. 137th Ave, Avondale, AZ 85392”
    The school's address is 3120 N. 137th Avenue, Avondale, Arizona.

Reach out

Contact details for Fr. Kevin Penkalski (Chaplain) and 3 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

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Academic Excellence

FAcademic Excellence: Minimal (grade F): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
14 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduates going to four-year colleges 75% of scoreThis measure counts for 75% of the Academic Excellence score.48%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.13.2 to 1

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed. Federal data on private high schools is limited to these two measures.

Source: NCES Private School Survey (2023–24 school year)

School facts

TypeDiocesan school
DioceseRoman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, AZ
Grades9–12
Students (all grades)370
Students in grades 9–12370
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio13.2 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges48%
SettingSuburb

Source: NCES Private School Survey 23-24 public-use file (school year 2023–24). The college-going rate and student–teacher ratio feed Academic Excellence; nothing here changes the faith grades.

Your state may help pay for this school

Arizona has 2 programs that help families pay private school tuition. Ask the school whether it takes part.

  • Education savings accountEmpowerment Scholarship Account (ESA)Arizona resident students of school age who meet the Arizona Department of Education's ESA eligibility rules.Official page, amounts and how to apply
  • Tax-credit scholarshipSchool tuition organization (STO) tax creditArizona taxpayers who donate to a certified school tuition organization; families receive scholarships from those organizations. ESA families cannot also receive STO scholarships.Official page, amounts and how to apply

Not tax, legal or financial advice. More about each state’s programs at our sister site, ChooseAPrivateSchool.com.

Local Church

Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix

The Most Reverend John P. Dolan, Bishop of Phoenix

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Cathedral: Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral

Source: dphx.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is John Paul II Catholic High School a Catholic high school?
Yes. John Paul II Catholic High School is a Catholic high school in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. Its sponsor is Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (Nashville).

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