John Paul Stevens High School opened its doors in August of 2005. The school was named for the retired Supreme Court Justice and was built on the site where Pope  John Paul II held mass when he visited San Antonio in September of 1987. Principal Harold Maldonado had a unique vision for the school that was based on respect and encouragement and focused heavily on student centered learning. These values have proved to be the springboard for the many successes Steven High School has enjoyed over the years.

The Stevens Band program is a well respected organization on campus, in the Northside community, and throughout San Antonio and Texas. The Sound of Northside is a marching band of nearly 200 members that entertains audiences throughout the fall with its unique field productions. The Sound has earned numerous honors in competition including finals appearances at the Vista Ridge Marching Festival and the Texas Marching Classic, and is a 6 time UIL Area Marching Contest Finalist (2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024).  Stevens has 3 levels of concert bands that perform numerous concerts throughout the winter and spring every year. Students are placed in Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, or Concert Band based on an audition that takes place in the spring. Students are also offered performance opportunities through our 2 Jazz Ensembles, four sections of Instrumental Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. Stevens High School also offers Music Theory and has a large and active chapter of the Texas Future Music Educators group (TFME). Stevens has one of the largest  and most awarded Colorguard programs in San Antonio. With nearly 40 members, the fall marching guard offers an exciting visual element to our marching band shows. Stevens has 2 competing winterguards that perform in the Texas Color Guard Circuit from January through April. Our Varsity Winterguard is a 5-time TCGC State Finalist. 

All of these performing ensembles and enrichment opportunities helped the Stevens Fine Arts Department grow into the largest in Northside ISD. The Stevens Fine Arts Department received the highest rating of “Exemplary” numerous times under the House Bill 5 evaluation system. The Stevens Band Program demonstrates its passion for being a model program by ensuring that all students have an opportunity to learn the most relevant material possible and by demanding that every performance demonstrates high quality learning. Beyond music, the mission of the Steven Band Family is to value showing respect to all we encounter and to teach our members to carry themselves with character and integrity in and out of the halls of John Paul Steven High School. The Stevens Band believes in earning the applause they receive for their performances and lives by the motto of “No Excuses, Just Results”.