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Aerial view of St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School
Aerial imagery: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). USGS

Catholic high school

St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School

  • LocationDumfries, VA
  • Type and sizeDiocesan school · Grades 9–12 · 649 students
Official website
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Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School is a Catholic high school of the Diocese of Arlington, with its campus address published in Potomac Shores, Virginia. Its Faith-Life page describes a Mass celebrated daily before school, Friday adoration, confession with a full-time chaplain, annual retreats for each class, and daily prayer. The published graduation requirements include religion courses in each of the four high school years.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint Francis of Assisi Church: 2.8 mi1School Chapel: 0.1 miSt. John Paul the Great Catholic High School (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Francis of Assisi Church — 2.8 mi · 18825 Fuller Heights Road, Triangle

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.

ASacramental life: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Sacramental life

92 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    All-school or class Masses during the school yearWeekly (The page says the school community typically attends Mass on Wednesdays or on a Solemnity every week.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith-Life | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/faithlife · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “As a school community, we typically attend Mass on Wednesdays or on a Solemnity every week.”
      The school community typically attends Mass weekly.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Daily Mass available to students on campusYes (Mass is celebrated daily before school begins.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith-Life | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/faithlife · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated daily before school begins.”
      Mass is celebrated daily before school begins.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Confession offered to students during the school yearSeasonally (Advent, Lent) or a few times a year (Penance services are held each Advent and Lent, and scheduled confessions are offered during school lunches.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith-Life | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/faithlife · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “A penance service is provided every Advent and Lent so all students may make a worthy preparation for Christmas and Easter.”
      A penance service is offered in Advent and in Lent.
      “Available through our full-time Chaplain by appointment or scheduled confessions during the school lunches.”
      Confession is available through the full-time chaplain and at scheduled times during lunch.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Eucharistic adoration offeredRegularly (monthly or more) (Adoration is offered weekly on Fridays during lunchtimes.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith-Life | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/faithlife · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Offered weekly on Fridays.”
      Eucharistic adoration is offered weekly on Fridays.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Priest chaplain serving the schoolYes (Fr. Jonathan Smith is listed as Chaplain, and the Faith-Life page describes a full-time chaplain.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Fr. Jonathan Smith | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1670849&type=u&pREC_ID=2248581 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. Jonathan Smith Position Chaplain”
      Fr. Jonathan Smith is listed as the school's chaplain.
    2. Faith-Life | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/faithlife · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Available through our full-time Chaplain by appointment or scheduled confessions during the school lunches.”
      Confession is available through the full-time chaplain and at scheduled times during lunch.
ATheology and curriculum: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Theology and curriculum

100 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Years of theology or religion requiredFour years (Religion is required in each of the four years. Four credits are required, and the school awards 0.5 credit per semester; a full-year course is 1 credit and the total is four full-year equivalents.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Religion | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/religion · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Required as a part of the course of studies for each of the four years”
      Religion courses are required in each of the four years of high school.
      “4 credits are required, or .5 credit for every semester enrolled at Saint John Paul the Great”
      Four credits of religion are required for graduation.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Theology courses follow the USCCB Curriculum FrameworkYes (The school says its religion courses reflect a USCCB curriculum guide approved in November 2007, rather than naming the framework by title.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Religion | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/religion · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The religion courses at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School reflect the curriculum guide approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in November 2007.”
      The religion courses reflect a USCCB curriculum guide approved in November 2007.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Philosophy, apologetics, or ethics course offeredYes (A required four-year Bioethics curriculum is rooted in philosophy and ethics.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Bioethics Program | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/bioethicsprogram · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “The required program, rooted in philosophy, science, and ethics, teaches students how to think and reason logically through complex issues.”
      A required Bioethics program is rooted in philosophy and ethics.
  • 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
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith-Life | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/faithlife · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “so too is our faith-life and campus ministry extended into all aspects of our school community: Classrooms, clubs, sport teams, art, theater, service, and House system!”
      Faith life and campus ministry extend into classrooms, clubs, and other school activities.
      “We cultivate self-discipline and a desire to encounter Veritas (the truth) in all subjects of study.”
      The school states that students encounter truth, which it connects to faith, in all subjects.
ACampus culture: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Campus culture

88 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    RetreatsA retreat for every grade (Retreats are offered annually for each class.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith-Life | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/faithlife · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Offered annually for each class, retreats at St. John Paul High School provide an opportunity for students to grow deeper in communion with God”
      Retreats are offered annually for each class.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Campus ministry staffOne (One chaplain is named. The staff directory also lists a chaplain assistant, who is not counted as professional ministry staff.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Fr. Jonathan Smith | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1670849&type=u&pREC_ID=2248581 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. Jonathan Smith Position Chaplain”
      Fr. Jonathan Smith 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
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith-Life | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/faithlife · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “We begin and conclude our day of academics as a school daily in prayer”
      The school begins and ends each school day with prayer.
AService and Catholic social teaching: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Service and Catholic social teaching

100 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • 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.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic social teaching taught in theology coursesYes (Catholic Social Teaching is one of four senior religion courses, and seniors must choose two.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Religion | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/religion · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Senior Required Courses: (Seniors must choose two) History of the Catholic Church Christian Vocations Catholic Social Teaching Applied Leadership in the Dominican Tradition”
      Catholic Social Teaching is one of the senior religion courses, and seniors choose two of four.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Pro-life engagement (club, March for Life, or similar)Yes (A LifeSavers Pro Life Club is listed among student clubs.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Clubs | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/clubs · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “LifeSavers Pro Life Club”
      A pro-life student club is listed on the school's clubs page.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Justice and solidarity programs (immersions, service trips, justice clubs)Yes
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith-Life | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/faithlife · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “There is a dedicated club on campus that organizes and goes out into the community quarterly to serve.”
      A campus service club serves in the community quarterly.
      “Our beloved annual mission trip to Banica is offered in the summer each year.”
      An annual summer mission trip to Banica is offered.

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

Strengths

  • Mass is celebrated daily before school begins, and the school community typically attends Mass weekly.
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith-Life | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/faithlife · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated daily before school begins.”
      Mass is celebrated daily before school begins.
      “As a school community, we typically attend Mass on Wednesdays or on a Solemnity every week.”
      The school community typically attends Mass weekly.
  • A chaplain is named, and adoration is offered weekly on Fridays.
    Sources (2)
    1. Fr. Jonathan Smith | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1670849&type=u&pREC_ID=2248581 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Fr. Jonathan Smith Position Chaplain”
      Fr. Jonathan Smith is listed as the school's chaplain.
    2. Faith-Life | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/faithlife · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Offered weekly on Fridays.”
      Eucharistic adoration is offered weekly on Fridays.
  • Religion courses are required in each of the four years, and the school states that its religion courses reflect a USCCB curriculum guide.
    Sources (1)
    1. Religion | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/religion · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Required as a part of the course of studies for each of the four years”
      Religion courses are required in each of the four years of high school.
      “The religion courses at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School reflect the curriculum guide approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in November 2007.”
      The religion courses reflect a USCCB curriculum guide approved in November 2007.
  • The school states that faith life and campus ministry extend into classrooms, clubs, and service.
    Sources (1)
    1. Faith-Life | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/faithlife · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “so too is our faith-life and campus ministry extended into all aspects of our school community: Classrooms, clubs, sport teams, art, theater, service, and House system!”
      Faith life and campus ministry extend into classrooms, clubs, and other school activities.

Concerns

  • Catholic Social Teaching is one of four senior religion courses, and seniors choose two; not every senior is required to take it.
    Sources (1)
    1. Religion | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/religion · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Senior Required Courses: (Seniors must choose two) History of the Catholic Church Christian Vocations Catholic Social Teaching Applied Leadership in the Dominican Tradition”
      Catholic Social Teaching is one of the senior religion courses, and seniors choose two of four.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Campus ministry home

School Chapel

  • Address: 17700 Dominican Drive, Potomac Shores, VA 22026
  • Location: On campus
  • Facilities: chapel

View on map ↗

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

Catholic clubs and student life

6 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 1 off campus, 5 location not published

Service 2

  • Annual summer mission trip to BanicaOff campus
    Summer, annually
    Annual mission trip offered in the summer.
    jpthegreat.org
  • Campus service club
    Dedicated campus club that organizes community service outings quarterly.
    jpthegreat.org

Clubs and groups 1

  • LifeSavers Pro Life Club
    Pro-life student club listed among the school's clubs.
    jpthegreat.org

Liturgy and prayer 2

  • Friday adoration
    Weekly on Fridays, during lunchtimes
    Adoration offered during lunchtimes, with parents invited to pray for the school.
    jpthegreat.org
  • Daily Mass before school
    Daily, before school begins
    Mass celebrated daily before school begins.
    jpthegreat.org

Retreats 1

  • Class retreats
    Annually, for each class
    Retreats that help students grow in communion with God and with each other.
    jpthegreat.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. Faith-Life | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/faithlife · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “As a school community, we typically attend Mass on Wednesdays or on a Solemnity every week.”
    The school community typically attends Mass weekly.
    “Architecturally, this is visibly seen at St. John Paul by the primacy of the Chapel at the heart of our school.”
    The school chapel is at the center of the school building.
    “17700 Dominican Drive, Potomac Shores, VA 22026”
    The school's published address is 17700 Dominican Drive, Potomac Shores, Virginia 22026.
  2. Fr. Jonathan Smith | Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High Schooljpthegreat.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1670849&type=u&pREC_ID=2248581 · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Fr. Jonathan Smith Position Chaplain”
    Fr. Jonathan Smith is listed as the school's chaplain.

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Academic Excellence

DAcademic Excellence: Limited (grade D): 40 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
55 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.82%
  • Students per teacher 25% of scoreThis measure counts for 25% of the Academic Excellence score.13.5 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
DioceseDiocese of Arlington, VA
Grades9–12
Students (all grades)649
Students in grades 9–12649
Coed or single-sexCoed
Student–teacher ratio13.5 to 1
Graduates going to 4-year colleges82%
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.

Local Church

Diocese of Arlington

The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Thomas More

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

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School a Catholic high school?
Yes. St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School is a Catholic high school in the Diocese of Arlington.
What is St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School’s Compass Score?
85 out of 100 (grade A). It combines faith (75%) and academics (25%), each rated from official sources.
Is St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School Compass Recommended?
Yes. St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School meets the Compass Recommended standard for Catholic identity and academics.

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