A preschool through grade 8 Dorchester neighborhood school 
Campuses
The Academy has three neighborhood campuses with safe and diverse learning environments.
- With more than 83% of Academy students identifying as an ethnic minority, we believe diversity is the future. Our students come from 30 different communities.
- 55% of our students are Catholic, all our families value the strength of a Catholic education.
- Our three campuses are supported by the resources and partnerships of the Academy – which set them apart from other private and public schools in the area.
- Nearly 100% of our students beat the national average every year in language arts scores.
Our school community is a true melting pot.
Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy has three campuses in Dorchester. Our school community is a true melting pot with 83% of Academy students identifying as an ethnic minority. There is increasing evidence that “diversity makes us smarter,” a finding that selective colleges long ago embraced and young parents are coming to appreciate. Researchers have documented that students’ exposure to other students who are different from themselves, and the novel ideas and challenges that such exposure brings, leads to improved cognitive skills, including critical thinking and problem solving. https://tcf.org/content/report/how-racially-diverse-schools-and-classrooms-can-benefit-all-students/
The Academy’s student population is as diverse as the communities it serves. With backgrounds from several countries including the United States, Vietnam, Cape Verde, Haiti, and South America, many of our students identify as multiracial, Asian, White, Black, Hispanic and Latino.
The Academy’s Columbia Campus is a bustling campus attracting students from Dorchester, South Boston, Roxbury, and communities north of Boston.
The Academy’s Lower Mills Campus is a true neighborhood school located on Dorchester Avenue in the heart of the vibrant Lower Mills neighborhood. Most students come from the communities of Lower Mills, Mattapan, Milton, and Randolph.
The Academy’s Neponset Campus sits within a lively neighborhood comprised of old and new families. Our students come from Dorchester, Quincy, Weymouth, and other towns on the South Shore.
We encourage you to visit our distinct campuses to meet our student body. Come tour today!
At SJPIICA our students are known, loved and called to excellence.