School Profile 2016-17
Overview
De La Salle High School is a private Catholic high school for young men founded in 1965 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers of the District of San Francisco. De La Salle is located thirty miles east of San Francisco and primarily serves students of Contra Costa County. The campus, which lies on almost twenty acres, is characterized by openness and beauty, and can accommodate over 1,000 students. Facilities include a 350-seat theater, library, large music facility, gymnasium, newly renovated pool and athletic field complex, computer center, a student center, and the new STREAM (Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering and Math) building opened in the fall of 2015. The 300 wing of the school was renovated in the summer of 2016 to provide new math and art rooms and a multi-media design studio.
Student Demographics
The student population reflects the diversity found in the ethnic, cultural, and economic realities of the county, and the school encourages this diversity in the composition of its student body. The school population of approximately 1050 students is composed of African-American (5%), Latino/Hispanic (15%), Asian (3%), Caucasian (56%), Filipino (6%), multiracial (10%), American Indian (1%), Pacific Islander (2%) other (2%).
Administration and Faculty
Eighty two dedicated professionals comprise De La Salle’s administration and faculty. Four members have earned doctoral degrees, and fifty members have earned master’s degrees in their related fields of administration, teaching, counseling, or library services. De La Salle High School is served by a President/CEO. The President offers a school-wide vision and an enabling structure to accomplish the mission of our school. The President works in collaboration with and provides direction for the Vice-Presidents who serve as division leaders. The Vice-Presidents for Academic Life, Campus Life, Athletics, Advancement and Finance and Senior Staff for Office of the President constitute the President’s Cabinet. In addition, there are five counselors, two of whom are college counselors. The faculty is noted for its professionalism, warmth, support, and availability to students and their parents. The Campus Ministry program involves students of all faiths at every grade level.
Parent Involvement
The students’ families support the school with volunteer time (over 25,000 hours each year), through their participation in the Parent Association, Alumni Association, academic events, the performing arts programs, and interscholastic athletic events. This commitment of parental support is a distinguishing characteristic of De La Salle.
Admissions
Each year the Admissions Committee considers applicants from approximately 100 parochial, private and public elementary schools. Enrollment is selective and acceptance is based upon the applicant’s performance on the High School Placement Test, academic records, recommendations of the principal, counselors, and teachers and may include a personal interview. The school seeks to attract students of varying academic abilities from diverse cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Each incoming class includes 5% of students who have applied and been selected to participate in the Bishop Cummins program which provides substantial financial support and mentoring for students with limited financial resources (185% of the federal poverty level), many of whom are first-generation college-bound, and who have the potential to benefit from a De La Salle education. De La Salle promotes positive expectations in a supportive environment for students who can benefit from the Lasallian educational philosophy.
Accreditation
De La Salle High School maintains dual accreditation by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The current term of accreditation for De La Salle High School concludes in June 2022. Between now and June 2022, De La Salle High School will continue to engage in ongoing evaluation of all programing using the accreditation protocol, "Ensuring Educational Excellence (E3)," developed by WCEA. This WCEA accreditation protocol gives De La Salle High School the opportunity to evaluate the depth of our Catholic identity and Lasallian character. It also promotes a substantive, mission-driven, data-informed means to assess the efficacy and vitality of all school programs using multiple sources of evidence. In addition to being affiliated with WCEA and WASC, De La Salle is also affiliated with the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, the California Scholarship Federation, the National Honor Society, and the National Education Council of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
Curriculum
The curriculum is designed to provide a thorough education rooted in the traditions of the Catholic faith. It also seeks to meet the individual needs of each student as they prepare for college and life. The curriculum is coordinated with Carondelet High School, a private Catholic girls’ high school located across the street from De La Salle. Many upper-division classes are co-educational. Students are required to enroll in six class periods per day; any additional classes are beyond the minimum.
Graduation Requirements
| English | 40 Credits |
| Mathematics | 30 Credits |
| Religious Studies | 40 Credits |
| Social Studies | 30 Credits |
| World Languages | 20 Credits |
| Electives | 25 Credits |
| Science | 25 Credits |
| Fine Arts | 10 Credits |
| Physical Education | 20 Credits |
TOTAL CREDITS: 240
AP/Honors
AP/Honors classes are available in grades 9-12 and include these academic disciplines: English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Visual & Performing Arts and World Languages. Advanced Placement courses include:
AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature, AP Environmental Science, AP French Language, AP Government, AP Italian Language, AP Latin(Vergil), AP Psychology, AP Physics I, AP Physics C, AP Spanish, AP Statistics, AP Studio Art and AP U.S. History.
College Prep courses are coded “P” or “H” (Honors). Enrollment in honors and AP classes is limited depending on space available and the individual students’ qualifications. In order to enroll in Honors or AP courses, students must meet eligibility requirements and submit an application. Students over the age of 16 may participate in concurrent enrollment at any local community college. Work in Progress on the transcript includes both semester and year-long courses.
G.P.A.
G.P.A. is weighted. Value is given to pluses and minuses. No A+ grades are issued. One extra grade point is designated for honors and advanced placement courses. Total GPA only includes courses taken at De La Salle.
Ranking
De La Salle does not provide class ranking for its students, but deciles are provided below. Because the school has a selective student body and a college preparatory program, class rank could be misleading in determining a student’s ability to successfully complete college work. Any courses repeated to earn a higher mark or enrichment courses taken elsewhere are noted on the transcript but not calculated into the De La Salle cumulative G.P.A.
Class of 2017 weighted G.P.A. distribution – 6th Semester cumulative grades – 258 students
| 1st Decile | 4.01-4.59 G.P.A. |
| 2nd Decile | 3.75-4.00 G.P.A. |
| 3rd Decile | 3.54-3.74 G.P.A. |
| 4th Decile | 3.36-3.53 G.P.A. |
| 5th Decile | 3.24-3.35 G.P.A. |
| 6th through 10th Decile | 1.89-3.22 G.P.A. |
Testing
| Testing Information - Class of 2016 | SAT: 215 students | ACT: 235 students |
| SAT Means: Critical Reading – 544 | Math – 555 | Writing - 526 |
| Mid 50%: Critical Reading…470-620 | Math…480-630 | Writing…470-580 |
| ACT – Composite Mean: 25.2 | ||
| Mid 50%: 22-29 |
College Matriculation: Class of 2016
| 85% Four-Year Institutions (204 students) | California 4 year institutions: 32 different schools, 20 public, 12 private (42% of the class) Out-of-State 4-year institutions: 63 different schools in 28 states and Washington DC (43% of the class) |
| 13% Two-Year Institutions (32 students) |
The Transcript is considered OFFICIAL only when “Official Transcript” seal is unbroken and affixed to envelope.
