This remains the core catchment area of the school today however past and present pupils have come from other local villages and towns in both Tyrone and Fermanagh including Omagh, Irvinestown, Drumquin, Killyclogher, Seskinore, Beragh, Castlederg, Ederney and Tempo.

Students that follow this programme spend one day a week with a local employer which is monitored by South West College in Omagh.

Several past students have also represented the Tyrone vocational schools' Gaelic football teams in winning Ulster and All-Ireland titles since the late 1960s.

The school has been an important nursery for local Gaelic football clubs in its catchment area, notably Dromore St. Dympna's, Fintona Pearses, Trillick St. Macartan's, Drumquin Wolfe Tones and Drumragh Sarsfields.

A large amount of the Dromore squad that won the Tyrone Senior Football Championship for the first time, including captain Fabian O'Neill, were former students of St. John's.

In 2008, Ryan McMenamin and Colm McCullagh, both past students, were starting players of the Tyrone team that won the 2008 All-Ireland Senior Gaelic Football Championship defeating Kerry in the final at Croke Park while Conor O'Neill and Ronan McNabb were both members of the Tyrone team that won the 2008 All-Ireland Minor Gaelic Football Championship defeating Mayo after a replay in Longford with McNabb as team captain.

Former students to have represented the Tyrone county team included Orla O'Neill, Sinéad McLaughlin, Mairéad McCann and Sonya Maguire.

The school has a newsletter called "Hilltop News" which is published several times a year, normally just before half-term and end-of-term breaks.

The newsletter covers achievements made by members past and present of the student body and on news of general interest about St. John's.