College Board recently announced that St. John Paul II School has been named to the 2025 Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning Gold distinction.
The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening participation. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.
In 2025, St. John Paul II School had 23 AP Scholars; 6 AP Scholars with Honors; 9 AP Scholars with Distinction and 3 recipients of the prestigious AP Capstone Diploma. With 16 different AP courses offered, a total of 224 AP tests were given in 2025 and 65% of the students scored a 3 or higher.
“Being named a Gold member of the 2025 AP School Honor Roll is a powerful reflection of our commitment to academic excellence and opportunity for all students,” said Mona Lisa Valentino, Assistant Head of School Grades 9-12. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our faculty, the determination of our students, and our shared focus on building a strong college-going culture at St. John Paul II School.”
“AP gives students an opportunity to engage with college-level work, earn college credit and placement, and build professional career skills they can use no matter what path they choose after high school,” said Trevor Packer, head of the AP program. “Congratulations to this year’s AP School Honor Roll recipients for proving it’s possible to expand participation in these rigorous courses and still drive strong performance.”
College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) enables students to pursue college-level studies—with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both—while still in high school. Through AP courses in 40 subjects, each culminating in a challenging exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue—skills that prepare them for college and beyond. Taking AP courses demonstrates to college admissions officers that students have sought the most challenging curriculum available to them, and research indicates that students who score a 3 or higher on an AP Exam typically experience greater academic success in college and are more likely to earn a college degree than non-AP students.
