School Overview
Data & methodology
Overall
A-
Matriculation
B+
Academics
A-
Extracurriculars
A
Geo & Community
B
Reviews
A
John Bapst Memorial High School, established in 1928, is a highly-regarded coeducational, nonsectarian, independent , 100% college preparatory boarding and day school for grades 9-12. Located in the safe, small city of Bangor, Maine, within walking distance of downtown, the school serves 90% day students from 35 Maine towns and cities and 10% boarding students from various countries, such as Brazil, China, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and Vietnam.
John Bapst boasts a strong academic reputation, evidenced by its consistent #1 ranking in northern New England by the Washington Post (2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018) and its recognition as an AP Platinum School by the College Board on the 2023 and 2024 AP Honor Roll in the US and Canada. Accredited by NEASC and a member of several prestigious associations (NAIS, iTEP, TABS, AISNE, SBSA, EMA), the school offers a challenging curriculum with 25 AP courses and 22 honors courses, along with ESL support and individualized scheduling catering to interests in arts, music, drama, business, and economics. A capstone program is also available for distinguished graduates.
The school fosters a caring community supported by 49 teachers, 2 college counselors, and 10 on-campus houseparents (primarily faculty). This environment, combined with a wide array of sports and extracurricular activities, prepares graduates for top universities worldwide, including Ivy League institutions and other highly-ranked global universities, including Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Penn, MIT, Brown, Dartmouth, McGill, Johns Hopkins, Chicago, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, UC-Berkley, Emory, Washington University in St. Louis, UCLA etc. The strong art and music programs have also successfully placed graduates in renowned art and music colleges such as Pratt, Parsons, Fashion Technology Institute, Rhode Island School of Design, the Art Institute of Chicago, Berklee College of Music and Los Angeles College of Music.
Beyond academics, John Bapst emphasizes student involvement in American school life through sports, band, musicals, community service (Key Club), and student-run publications and clubs (Model UN, Yearbook, newspaper, art). The school has a robust STEM program, particularly in robotics, engineering, and programming. International students actively participate and often lead in various academic teams (math team and robotics) and athletic teams.
Students benefit from Bangor's location, which offers both access to outdoor activities (hiking, water sports, skiing, Acadia National Park) and urban conveniences (restaurants, movies, shopping, entertainment venues). Weekend activities are generally within a 10-minute drive. The Bangor International Airport, with direct flights to major cities like New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Chicago, and bus lines to Boston provide convenient travel options for all students, especially international students. Ultimately, John Bapst aims to cultivate well-educated global citizens ready for future academic and professional success.
John Bapst boasts a strong academic reputation, evidenced by its consistent #1 ranking in northern New England by the Washington Post (2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018) and its recognition as an AP Platinum School by the College Board on the 2023 and 2024 AP Honor Roll in the US and Canada. Accredited by NEASC and a member of several prestigious associations (NAIS, iTEP, TABS, AISNE, SBSA, EMA), the school offers a challenging curriculum with 25 AP courses and 22 honors courses, along with ESL support and individualized scheduling catering to interests in arts, music, drama, business, and economics. A capstone program is also available for distinguished graduates.
The school fosters a caring community supported by 49 teachers, 2 college counselors, and 10 on-campus houseparents (primarily faculty). This environment, combined with a wide array of sports and extracurricular activities, prepares graduates for top universities worldwide, including Ivy League institutions and other highly-ranked global universities, including Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Penn, MIT, Brown, Dartmouth, McGill, Johns Hopkins, Chicago, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, UC-Berkley, Emory, Washington University in St. Louis, UCLA etc. The strong art and music programs have also successfully placed graduates in renowned art and music colleges such as Pratt, Parsons, Fashion Technology Institute, Rhode Island School of Design, the Art Institute of Chicago, Berklee College of Music and Los Angeles College of Music.
Beyond academics, John Bapst emphasizes student involvement in American school life through sports, band, musicals, community service (Key Club), and student-run publications and clubs (Model UN, Yearbook, newspaper, art). The school has a robust STEM program, particularly in robotics, engineering, and programming. International students actively participate and often lead in various academic teams (math team and robotics) and athletic teams.
Students benefit from Bangor's location, which offers both access to outdoor activities (hiking, water sports, skiing, Acadia National Park) and urban conveniences (restaurants, movies, shopping, entertainment venues). Weekend activities are generally within a 10-minute drive. The Bangor International Airport, with direct flights to major cities like New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Chicago, and bus lines to Boston provide convenient travel options for all students, especially international students. Ultimately, John Bapst aims to cultivate well-educated global citizens ready for future academic and professional success.
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Extracurricular Rankings
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School Stats
Average
Current school
Tuition
$54,700
Enrollment
500
International Students
11%
Faculty with Advanced Degrees
72%
Teacher-Student Ratio
1:11
Endowment
$3 million
AP
26
Average SAT Score
1300
Average ACT Score
26
Class Size
16
Boarding %
12.4
Matriculation
College Matriculation
(2025)| Ranking | University/College | Students |
|---|---|---|
| #2 | Columbia University | 1 + |
| #9 | Duke University | 1 + |
| #17 | Cornell University | 1 + |
| #21 | Emory University | 1 + |
| #25 | University of Virginia | 1 + |
| LAC #5 | Wellesley College | 1 + |
| #28 | New York University | 1 + |
| LAC #6 | Bowdoin College | 1 + |
| #34 | University of California: San Diego | 1 + |
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Videos (1)
Academics
AP Scores
(2023-2024)Number of students who took AP tests
285
Number of tests taken
505
Score 5
Score 4
Score 3
Other scores
AP Courses
(26)An honoree of Platinum award for both 2023 and 2024 AP School Honor Roll. Top 7% of all the schools in the US and Canada. One of the three schools in Maine that were granted with the honor.
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Calculus AB
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Calculus BC
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Chemistry
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Comparative Government and Politics
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Computer Science A
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English Language and Composition
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Calculus AB
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Calculus BC
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Chemistry
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Comparative Government and Politics
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Computer Science A
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English Language and Composition
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English Literature and Composition
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European History
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French Language and Culture
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Human Geography
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Latin
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Spanish Language and Culture
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Statistics
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Biology
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Chinese Language and Culture
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Macroeconomics
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Psychology
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United States History
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Environmental Science
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Studio Art: 2-D Design
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Physics C: Mechanics
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Music Theory
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United States Government and Politics
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Art History
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Studio Art: 3-D Design
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Studio Art: Drawing
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AP Equivalent and Beyond
(4)|
Multivariable Calculus
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Field Biology
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Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
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Abstract Mathematics
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Sports
(18)|
Alpine Skiing
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Baseball
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Basketball
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Cheerleading
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Cross Country
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Field Hockey
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Alpine Skiing
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Baseball
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Basketball
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Cheerleading
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Cross Country
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Field Hockey
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Golf
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Ice Hockey
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Lacrosse
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Soccer
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Softball
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Swimming
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Tennis
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Track and Field
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Badminton
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Nordic Skiing
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Snowboarding
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American Football
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Extracurricular Activities and Clubs
(35)|
Art Club
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Book Club
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Chess Team
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Chinese Club
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Civil Rights Team
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Coding club
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Art Club
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Book Club
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Chess Team
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Chinese Club
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Civil Rights Team
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Coding club
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Cyber-Security Team
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French Club
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Gaming Club
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Guitar Club
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High School Quiz Show
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Junior Classical League
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Key Club
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Knitting and Crocheting Club
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Math Team
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Media Lab
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Model UN
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National Honor Society
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National History Day
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Newspaper
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Outing Club
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Philosophy Club
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Photography Club
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Residential Life Council
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Robotics Team
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Science Club
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Spanish Club
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Student Ambassadors
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Student Environmental Action Committee
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Student Senate
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Tai Chi Club
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Technology Club
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Tenor/Bass Ensemble
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Yearbook
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Youth in Government
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Arts
(19)|
Band
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Jazz
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Music Theory
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Piano
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Digital Photography
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Drawing
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Band
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Jazz
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Music Theory
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Piano
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Digital Photography
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Drawing
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Painting
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Sculpture
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Studio Art
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Chamber Orchestra
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Choir
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Drama
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Art History
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Illustration
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Design
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Guitar
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Music
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Treble Choir
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Watercolor
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Basic Info
Application Info
Reviews
A FindingSchool User
5 / 5
09/11/2023
Reviews from other languages
Data for John Bapst High School: student population 518, student-teacher ratio 1:11, international students 10%, boarding students 10%, teachers with advanced degrees 72%. John Bapst High School is located in Maine, known as a "resort destination," founded in 1928. It is a non-denominational, private, college-preparatory high school, enrolling grades 9-12, co-educational, with both boarding and day student options. Since 2012, the school has been continuously ranked #1 among all high schools in Northern New England (Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont) by The Washington Post. It admits only about ten Chinese students annually. Graduates attend Ivy League universities, top private institutions, arts and music schools, research universities, and liberal arts colleges. The school is about a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Boston, located in downtown Bangor. It enjoys the quiet safety of a small city, with no shortage of metropolitan recreational facilities nearby, and the local people are friendly and simple, providing an excellent environment for the healthy growth, learning, and life of minors. The school offers 21 in-person AP courses and has recently launched STEM programs. Over 80% of teachers hold advanced degrees. The school has a rich variety of extracurricular activities; arts, music, mathematics, robotics, etc., are all strong, with over 40 clubs to choose from. It offers one-on-one course scheduling and college counseling, and a dedicated driver is responsible for transporting boarding students to various extracurricular activities.
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A FindingSchool User
5 / 5
04/08/2022
Reviews from other languages
Hello everyone! I am the mother of a 12th-grade student at John Bapst Memorial High School. Through my child's own efforts and the help and encouragement of the school's teachers, my child was accepted early into their dream university, New York University. John Bapst Memorial High School was founded in 1928 and offers grades 9-12. It is located in downtown Bangor, Maine's third-largest city in the New England region. It is about a 4-hour drive from Boston. Here, you get the safety and quiet of a small city, along with the amenities of a large city. John Bapst Memorial High School has been recognized by the Washington Post as 'one of America's most challenging high schools' and 'the best high school in Maine'.
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A FindingSchool User
5 / 5
10/17/2021
Reviews from other languages
John Bapst Memorial High School was founded in 1928 and offers courses for grades 9-12. It is located in downtown Bangor, the third-largest city in Maine, in the New England region. It is about a 4-hour drive from Boston. It offers both the safety and tranquility of a small city and the convenient facilities of a large city. John Bapst Memorial High School was named by The Washington Post as 'one of the most challenging high schools in the nation' and 'the best high school in Maine'.
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A FindingSchool User
5 / 5
06/21/2020
Reviews from other languages
Many schools in Maine are currently optimistic about the fall semester opening. Compared to other states, Maine has relatively better control over the epidemic.
John Bapst has also made advance plans for Chinese parents regarding the fall opening. Please refer to the following:
If the state government still has quarantine regulations, the school will discuss with parents. The following information is for your planning reference:
· August 25th: First day of class for new students. August 26th: First day of class for all students. If parents are willing to book tickets 14 days before the start date, i.e., arriving locally around August 10th, the school will plan for students to quarantine on campus. Room and board fees will be low; the school does not intend to profit from this.
· Students arriving after August 12th will need to quarantine for 14 days before they can attend in-person classes on campus. Prior to that, they will need to attend online classes.
Campus Changes
The first official day of school is August 26th. Based on the reopening experiences of schools in other countries, we may start the new academic year as planned and succeed, but with the following changes:
· Class sizes will be reduced, and desks will be spaced out to meet social distancing requirements.
· Lunch and weekly assemblies will be adjusted separately to avoid gatherings.
· Hallways and stairwells will become one-way traffic to improve congestion.
· The class schedule will be adjusted to reduce the number of daily class changes, increase break times, and importantly, minimize class sizes.
John Bapst has also made advance plans for Chinese parents regarding the fall opening. Please refer to the following:
If the state government still has quarantine regulations, the school will discuss with parents. The following information is for your planning reference:
· August 25th: First day of class for new students. August 26th: First day of class for all students. If parents are willing to book tickets 14 days before the start date, i.e., arriving locally around August 10th, the school will plan for students to quarantine on campus. Room and board fees will be low; the school does not intend to profit from this.
· Students arriving after August 12th will need to quarantine for 14 days before they can attend in-person classes on campus. Prior to that, they will need to attend online classes.
Campus Changes
The first official day of school is August 26th. Based on the reopening experiences of schools in other countries, we may start the new academic year as planned and succeed, but with the following changes:
· Class sizes will be reduced, and desks will be spaced out to meet social distancing requirements.
· Lunch and weekly assemblies will be adjusted separately to avoid gatherings.
· Hallways and stairwells will become one-way traffic to improve congestion.
· The class schedule will be adjusted to reduce the number of daily class changes, increase break times, and importantly, minimize class sizes.
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Frequently Ask Questions about John Bapst School
Tell me a bit about John Bapst School.
Does John Bapst School have rigorous academic requirements?
John Bapst School is offering 26 AP courses.
In recent years, 21 of their students score 4 and 5 in AP exams.
John Bapst School also have 72% of faculties whose degrees are master and above.
In recent years, 21 of their students score 4 and 5 in AP exams.
John Bapst School also have 72% of faculties whose degrees are master and above.
Where do John Bapst School students typically go for their colleges?
Based on the most recent matriculation data, 11.76% go to top 50 US universities and colleges*, 1.68% go to top 25, and about 2.52% go to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and MIT.
*Ranking is based on the 2024 US News College Ranking.
*Ranking is based on the 2024 US News College Ranking.
What is the application requirement for John Bapst School?
Similar to most private schools in the US, John Bapst School’s typical admission requirements include school transcript, recommendation letter, application essay, and interview.
What is the Boarding Tuition for John Bapst School?
The total fee for John Bapst School in 2024 is
$54,700 which typically includes tuition, boarding fee, student management fee and a few other fees associated with managing international students.
For more information, please contact school’s admission team at admission@johnbapst.org .
For more information, please contact school’s admission team at admission@johnbapst.org .
Where is John Bapst School located?
John Bapst School is located in the State of Maine of USA.
How popular is John Bapst School on the FindingSchool network?
Based on FindingSchool monthly traffic data as well as onsite search record, John Bapst School is among the most popular schools.
How do I complete an application for John Bapst School?
The first stop is to carefully review the school profile on FindingSchool to learn more about John Bapst School. Most of them are directly provided by the school.
Also it is highly recommended to visit John Bapst School’s official site: www.johnbapst.org or call them at 207-947-0313.
Also it is highly recommended to visit John Bapst School’s official site: www.johnbapst.org or call them at 207-947-0313.
Are there additional schools that are located close to John Bapst School?
What is the FindingSchool rating for John Bapst School?
The overall rating for John Bapst School is A-.
The section ratings of John Bapst School are:
B+ for Matriculation
A- for Academics
A for Extracurriculum
B for Community
A for Students and Parents reviews
The section ratings of John Bapst School are:
B+ for Matriculation
A- for Academics
A for Extracurriculum
B for Community
A for Students and Parents reviews
Nearby City
Bangor is a vibrant city located in northeastern Maine, serving as an important cultural and transportation hub for the region. Situated along the Penobscot River, the city offers a beautiful natural setting, four distinct seasons, and a classic New England atmosphere. Known for its safe, welcoming community and convenient living environment, Bangor also provides strong educational and medical resources. It serves as a key gateway to northern Maine and Acadia National Park, making it an attractive place to live, study, and explore.
Population (2022)
32,029
Cost of Living
Higher than average 1%
Nearby Airport
Bangor International Airport
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