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What is St. John XXIII College Preparatory?
St. John XXIII College Preparatory (often shortened to SJ23) is a private, coed Catholic high school in Katy, Texas, serving grades 9–12. Its stated mission is to form students "in mind and heart" through a Christ-centered community focused on academic excellence, virtue and service within the Catholic tradition.
What it offers, based on the school's own information:
- Academics: College-preparatory curriculum with 144 different course offerings, plus college readiness and academic support services.
- Faith and student life: Liturgy and campus ministry, a student leadership and "houses" system, fine arts and student organizations.
- Athletics: Varsity sports with published athletic calendars and game tickets.
- Admissions: A defined how-to-apply process, important dates, campus visits, and a tuition and financial aid section, plus an international student program.
- Community: Roughly 1,200 alumni; the school reports a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 100% college acceptance for its class of '24, along with $11M+ in scholarships awarded to that class.
Who it suits: Families in the Katy/Houston area seeking a faith-based, college-oriented high school experience for grades 9–12, including international students. The trade-off is typical of private Catholic education: tuition and an application process rather than open enrollment, in exchange for a mission-driven community and structured college preparation.
Next step: If you're considering it, start with the admissions "How to Apply" and "Important Dates" pages, then book a campus visit through Visit SJ23 to judge fit in person. Official site: St. John XXIII College Preparatory.
How much does tuition cost and what financial aid options are available?
Tuition is not listed here; the school publishes a dedicated Tuition & Financial Aid page under Admissions. That is where current rates, fee schedules, and aid instructions live, so use it rather than relying on secondhand figures. Start at St. John XXIII College Preparatory and open Admissions → Tuition & Financial Aid.
What the site does show is the scale of aid: more than $11 million in scholarships awarded to the class of 2024. That signals substantial support, though it does not tell you how awards are distributed, whether they are need-based or merit-based, or how many students receive them. Those details belong on the tuition page or with the admissions office.
For a family in Katy weighing private Catholic high school against other options, the practical sequence is:
- Check the Tuition & Financial Aid page for the current year's tuition and any separate fees (registration, technology, athletics, retreats).
- Note the aid application deadline and required documents, since these often fall earlier than the admission deadline.
- Ask whether awards renew annually and what GPA or conduct conditions apply.
- Request a net-cost estimate rather than comparing sticker tuition alone.
A useful next step: contact the admissions office directly with your student's grade level and ask for a sample aid package timeline, so you know exactly which forms are due and when.
What is the admissions process and what are the important dates for applying?
St. John XXIII College Preparatory in Katy, Texas, admits students through an application process with published deadlines and a financial-aid step. The school's site organizes this information under "Admissions," with separate pages for How to Apply, Important Dates, Visit SJ23, and Tuition & Financial Aid.
What the process typically involves
Based on the school's admissions structure, families can expect a sequence like this: inquire or visit, submit an application, provide school records and any testing or recommendation materials, apply for financial aid if needed, and receive an admission decision. The site also lists an International Student Program, which suggests a separate track for applicants from outside the U.S.
Where to find the dates
The school publishes an "Important Dates" page under Admissions, and its calendar includes events such as Parent Teacher Conferences and campus liturgies. Prospective families should treat the Important Dates page as the authoritative source for application deadlines and decision notifications, since those dates change by admissions cycle.
A practical next step
If you are considering applying for a future school year, start by booking a visit through the "Visit SJ23" page and reviewing "Tuition & Financial Aid" before the application deadline, so aid paperwork does not delay the process. Then confirm the current cycle's deadlines on the Important Dates page rather than relying on general private-school timelines.
For official details, see St. John XXIII College Preparatory.
How does the school prepare students for college and what is the college acceptance rate?
St. John XXIII College Preparatory presents college preparation as a core part of its mission, describing itself as a Christ-centered community dedicated to academic excellence, the pursuit of virtue, and service to others. On the academic side, the school highlights college readiness, academic support services, a library, and a broad curriculum of 144 different course offerings. Its stated student-to-faculty ratio is 13:1, which suggests relatively small classes and more individual attention. The school also reports that 100% of its Class of '24 were accepted to college and that over $11 million in scholarships was awarded to that class, along with an announcement of College Board AP success.
In practice, that combination matters for a family weighing a private Catholic high school. A 13:1 ratio and a dedicated college-readiness strand are most useful for students who want to be known by teachers and advised individually through course selection and applications. A wide course catalog is helpful for students with a clear direction — for example, a strong math and science sequence or advanced humanities work — while built-in academic support services help students who need scaffolding to keep up with a demanding load. The AP results signal that advanced coursework is available and that students are sitting for college-level exams, which can affect placement and credit later. The 100% acceptance figure should be read as "every graduate who applied got in somewhere," not as a guarantee of admission to a particular highly selective school; the $11 million scholarship total reflects many students' awards combined, not a typical individual amount.
A useful next step is to ask about the specific college-readiness sequence: which AP and honors courses are offered, how many students take them, whether there is a formal college counseling program and when it begins, and how the school supports students who are not on an advanced track. You can start from the academics and admissions sections at St. John XXIII College Preparatory. For comparison, look at how other Catholic and private high schools in the Houston area structure college counseling and advanced coursework.
What athletic programs and extracurricular activities does the school offer?
St. John XXIII College Preparatory in Katy, Texas, offers athletics plus a broad extracurricular slate that runs from faith formation to fine arts and student-led organizations.
Athletics
- Varsity sports, with a published athletic calendar and game tickets handled through the school
- A dedicated athletics support and booster channel, plus a sideline store for team gear
- Summer at SJ23, which gives incoming and current students a way to stay active and get ahead before the school year
Extracurriculars and co-curricular life
- Student Leadership and Houses: students belong to house communities, and houses host their own liturgies and receptions
- Liturgy and Campus Ministry: Masses, feast day celebrations and service rooted in the school's Catholic mission
- Fine Arts: performance and visual arts offerings
- Student Organizations: clubs and activities organized around student interests
- Alumni, parent and sports news streams that keep families connected to events
How to choose between them
| If your student wants… | Look first at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Team competition and school spirit | Varsity Sports, Athletic Calendar, SJ23 Sideline Store | The athletics pages carry schedules, tickets and gear in one place |
| Leadership and belonging | Student Leadership and Houses | House membership creates a smaller community within the school |
| Faith and service | Liturgy and Campus Ministry | Directly tied to the school's stated mission of virtue and service |
| Creative work | Fine Arts | A distinct track from athletics and clubs |
| A sampler before committing | Summer at SJ23 | A lower-pressure way to test interests and meet classmates |
A useful next step: open the Athletics and Student Life sections of St. John XXIII College Preparatory and check the school and athletics calendars for dates that fit your family. If your student is deciding between a sport and a club, ask whether the season and meeting times overlap, since that scheduling conflict is usually the deciding factor rather than interest alone.
Does the school have an international student program and how can international students apply?
Yes. St. John XXIII College Preparatory in Katy, Texas, lists an International Student Program under its Admissions section, so international applicants are explicitly part of the school's enrollment process rather than an afterthought. The school serves grades 9–12 as a private, coed Catholic college-preparatory high school.
How to apply (from the school's admissions structure)
The admissions path for international students runs through the same core steps as domestic applicants, with the international program as the entry point:
- Start with Admissions → International Student Program on the school site for requirements specific to international candidates.
- Follow How to Apply for the application itself.
- Check Important Dates for deadlines and decision timelines.
- Review Tuition & Financial Aid for cost and aid information.
- Use Visit SJ23 if a campus visit or virtual tour is feasible.
What to expect
International admission to a U.S. Catholic high school typically involves transcripts and English proficiency evidence, plus an I-20 and student visa process. Because the school does not publish those details in the page information available here, treat the International Student Program page as the authoritative checklist before submitting anything.
Practical next step
If you are a family applying from abroad, email or call the admissions office first and ask three questions: which documents international applicants must submit, whether the school issues I-20 forms for F-1 visas, and whether international students are eligible for any financial aid. Confirm the answers in writing, then work backward from the Important Dates page to build your timeline. For a broader comparison of U.S. Catholic secondary options, you can also review National Catholic Educational Association.
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