Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
St. John Paul the Great is located in the Rosedale neighborhood of Central Denver at 2330 S. Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80120.
In the Fall of 2023, we will welcome Freshman (9th) and Sophomore (10th) grade classes.
The original Rosedale Elementary School center building was built in 1924. In 1955, the South wing was added and, in 1990, the gym was added on the North side. The school was closed and boarded up approximately 17 years ago.
The school will be opened in three phases. Phase I includes a complete remodel and upgrading of the original center building. The center building will contain ten classrooms and administration space. This construction began in August 2021 and is expected to be completed in June 2022, in time for a Fall 2022 opening.
Phase II will include the demolition and rebuilding of the South wing, including a cafeteria, multipurpose room, additional classrooms, and sports field. Our goal is to begin this work during the Summer of 2022 and open in the Fall of 2023.
Phase III will include the demolition and rebuilding of the North wing, including a new gym, workout facility, art room, and science labs. Please monitor our website for more information on the status of the progress.
The school building sits on 4.5 acres owned by Denver Public Schools (DPS). The site is surrounded by over 30 acres of parks and open space owned by the City of Denver. The school building and 4.5 acres have been secured by a 60-year lease, including renewal options. Per the terms of the lease, we have the right to operate the school as a religious institution in accordance with Catholic teaching and beliefs, including our employment practices and policies, student admission guidelines, curriculum, etc. We also have certain rights to purchase the building and land if DPS chooses to sell the property in the future.
Governance and Leadership
The term “independent” refers to the governance of the school, meaning the school is ultimately governed independently of the Archdiocese of Denver. Rather than reporting directly to the Archbishop, the school’s leadership reports to an independent Board of Trustees.
St. John Paul the Great is a Catholic high school, and therefore, works in unity with the local Archbishop who is ultimately responsible for the care of Catholics in the Archdiocese. Practically, this means the Archdiocese has been granted two of the 15 seats on the Board of Trustees, including the Archbishop (or his delegate) and the Superintendent of Catholic Schools.
The final responsibility for governance, culture, mission, identity, and curriculum lies with the Board of Trustees.
The president is the primary leader and fundraiser and is effectively the voice of the school for its mission among members of the community, including families, benefactors, and civic leaders alike. The president reports directly to the Board of Trustees.
The principal is committed to ensuring the mission, vision, culture, and values of the school are held among teachers, faculty, and students in the community. The principal is accountable to the president.
The Board of Trustees is proud to announce Erin Heule has been hired as our founding Principal and Jeff Kummer has been hired to serve as Interim President. Please click their names to learn more about them!
Yes! A key pillar of our school is to support the role of our parents as the primary educators of their children, and as such, parents will have many opportunities to collaborate in areas of school life. We are currently exploring a Parent Advisory Board to assist the school’s leadership and Board in making critical decisions.
Admissions
Learn more about the process here.
The stated tuition rate for 2022 is $13,900.
Yes, financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Our philosophy behind tuition and tuition assistance is to be as transparent as possible with the actual cost to educate students. All qualified families desiring an education at St. John Paul the Great will receive assistance.
Yes, merit-based scholarships are available.
Yes, please send us a message here.
Curriculum and Programs
Classical education rediscovers the Church’s rich tradition of teaching through the use of the great sources and by forming the entire person, not only the mind and soul, but also the body and imagination. It seeks to foster the dispositions needed to perceive reality clearly, to consider it logically, and to express oneself persuasively. These dispositions lay the ground for future academic and career success. Classical educational philosophy and academic programs prepare students not just to “get through” their education but to be formed in all areas of their humanity and to flourish.
Yes! Recent studies of comparative test scores show classically educated students outscore their peers who attend traditional “college preparatory” programs.
Although helpful, students are not required to have prior classical-style education. Our program is rooted in the natural development process of young people, so we are confident that families who desire this kind of education will thrive in it.
Yes! We believe that a culture where students become who God created them to be looks vibrant with co-curricular activities — these are considered to be part of the formation, therefore they are not “extra” but “co-curricular” — such as house sports, competitions, and debates, while also offering extracurricular activities such as clubs and outdoor excursions. Student-initiated/led clubs will be considered and, if approved, given a faculty moderator.
The educational philosophy of classical education naturally challenges and supports students in their journey of the pursuit of wisdom. Opportunities will be given in class to support students who are gifted.
Math and science are an integral part of Catholic Classical education. We will have state-of-the-art science labs and excellent teachers who teach the quadrivium in ways that engage and challenge every student.
We will offer AP courses in math, science, and Latin.
We are researching accreditation agencies that will best fit our mission so we can begin the accreditation process.
Catholic Identity and Culture
The board and leadership of St. John Paul the Great are committed to a bold Catholicism as central and indispensable to the school’s identity and mission. Daily Mass, regular confession, and prayer will be visible expressions of the school’s Catholicity. The school’s Catholic identity will be embodied not only in art and scheduled activities but also in the vibrant faith of teachers and staff.
The Companions of Christ will act as spiritual fathers at St. John Paul the Great. Their role will be to not only offer sacraments as chaplains but also to be present for relational ministry and events.
Daily mass will be held midday. In the beginning, it will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes. Phase II of construction will include an on-campus chapel.
St. John Paul the Great will provide a number of ways for students to encounter Christ, including retreats, speakers, and the availability of priests engaged in relational ministry on campus.
Student Life
Technology will be used when it can bolster lessons or increase understanding, and computers will be present on campus to assist. Students will not be allowed to use personal devices in the classroom.
To form the students’ broader understanding of the human condition and cultivate a philanthropic spirit, they will participate in mission trips and regular local service projects.
To foster a sense of dignity in the endeavor of learning and encourage school spirit, the students will wear uniforms in the school colors: burgundy and navy.
All classes will be co-ed, however single-sex classes will be offered in the humanities seminar and potentially other classes where enrollment allows.
Discipline will be approached as a way of forming students in virtue. The school relies on the parents’ authority and understanding of the critical process of forming young men and women in virtue.
We are planning to create and follow a multi-grade house system that will promote unity across the grades, strengthen relationships, and build mentoring opportunities.