In 2010, its ethnic composition was: NZ European/Pākehā 66%; Māori 14%; Asian 11%; Pacific 4%; Korean 3%; Indian 2%; Filipino 2% and Other 9%[5] The college supports a wide range of cultural and sporting activities and students have gained many successes at regional and national levels.

[5] Academically, the school offers for senior years the National Certificate of Educational Achievement assessment system (NCEA).

[7] John Paul College considers itself to be a Lasallian School whose mission is to form a Community where teachers and students can live their faith and become the persons that God wants them to be.

We believe as lay colleagues to the De La Salle Brothers we give testimony to the Providence and Presence of God as we educate the young in the tradition of Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, giving attention to all and especially to pupils whose development is hindered by economics, personal and other problems.

It promotes excellence in the academic, sporting and cultural spheres and has comprehensive systems of pastoral care and support to "ensure that each individual student can flourish to his or her fullest potential."

[16] A former teacher of the college who had a teaching career spanning 60 years was censured in 2017 by the Education Council's Disciplinary Tribunal.

Allegations of bullying and extreme violence had been made in the College in 2021 which was spread through social media to the local community.

[21][22] In July 2018, two members of John Paul College’s first XV rugby team came under fire for documented abuse of a bird at a party.

[23] After the incident occurred and after backlash from the public, the school’s board made the decision to exclude them from the college’s rugby team for three games.

[23][24] In 1902, Mother Mary MacKillop, the founder of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, went to Rotorua during the last of her four visits to New Zealand.

Her doctors had suggested that she might find in the mineral waters some relief from the rheumatic condition that was progressively limiting her activities and causing her considerable distress.

[25] "It was evidently during her stay in Rotorua that Mother Mary MacKillop saw the great need for a Catholic school there, and set the arrangements in motion.

"[25] Father Kreijmborg, Mill Hill missionary priest, in 1902, built a school near the lake in St Michael's Parish and prepared a convent for the sisters who arrived the following year.

The educational impact was severe and struggling staff were advised by the Diocesan Director of Schools on how to 'ensure at least some people progress until staffing can be improved'.

Nonetheless, in its opening year the school field[s] sports teams, sent a contingent to Tauranga to meet the Queen and staged a musical.

"[28] MacKillop College (named after Mary MacKillop (St Mary of the Cross)) for girls was opened by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart on 14 February 1966, on a site adjoining Edmund Rice College, with a foundation roll of 146 girls in Forms I, II and III.

[31] Difficulties in providing a wide range of subjects at senior level resulted in sharing classes with Edmund Rice College.

The Education Department estimated the cost of upgrading Edmund Rice and MacKillop Colleges to meet integration requirements at $1.2 million.

"[32] "Bishop Gaines drove the change and it was his financial genius which pulled off the sale, and later the purchase back of [the] McKillop [College site], for a very healthy profit to the school.

The funds from the initial sale enabled John Paul College to build and refurbish, to meet the needs of the growing numbers of students.

For a time the new school operated in both places, but the former Edmund Rice College was chosen for the new site because it had more potential for development.