Pope John XXIII School is located in south Evanston and serves children from three years old to fourteen years old for preschool to eighth grade. Approximately 320  students attend the “mini campus” that consists of three buildings and two playgrounds. Pope John XXIII is a Catholic school for two parishes: St. Nicholas and St. Mary’s.  We are located on the St. Nicholas site but we participate equally in the parish life of both parishes. The pastors, Fr. Britto Berchmans and Fr. Michael Solazzo visit the school regularly to support the spiritual growth of the students. The day begins and ends with a whole school prayer over the public address system. Religion is taught everyday using the Sadlier Religion Series and following the newly revised Archdiocesan Religion Curriculum for each grade from preschool to eighth. The Catholic Identity of Pope John XXIII School is strong and vibrant and can be witnessed in the monthly all school children’s masses. Mrs. Nancy Marcheschi, a national presenter on children’s liturgies and liturgical dance, plans and organizes the children so there is full participation by the students.

Pope John XXIII School has excellent academics. More than half of the children consistently score above average on the TERRA NOVA standardized tests.  Mean scores are in the top 10% nationally. Students are accepted to highly selective high schools and test into honors classes at Evanston Township High School. Accelerated classes are offered to challenge students starting in sixth grade. Differentiated instruction and small guided reading groups target students at their instructional level from kindergarten through fifth grade. Pope John XXIII School’ Science Olympiad Team has competed at the State of Illinois meet four times in the last five years. Most recently, in the spring of 2007, the Science Olympiad Team placed fifth in the state. Graduates from Pope John XXIII School continue their academic success by winning prestigious scholarships for college and earning placement in highly selective colleges.

Pope John XXIII School is financially vital.  With the subsidy support of two parishes, good fiscial management, an Annual Fund, and a healthy endowment the school not only balances the operating budget yearly but is able to offer enhancements and capital improvements to the students.  In the summer of 2006 the J Howard and Helen M. Reed Multi-Media Center was built and the Pope John XXIII library more than doubled its collection of books.  Technology improvements are made yearly.  Pope John XXIII School can be proud of their state of the art computer lab in the Annex building, the mobile lap-top computer lab in the Reed Media center, and classroom computers centers that have from four to fifteen computers for student use. As one of the first consolidated schools, Pope John XXIII is a success story in the Archdiocese and is used as a model for other school consolidations.