Opening the Doors: How Financial Aid Brings the Lasallian Mission to Life at De La Salle

On a crisp fall morning in Concord, the campus of De La Salle High School hums with the energy of more than a thousand young men. They stream into classrooms with backpacks slung over their shoulders, gather on the quad or in the Hofmann Center. It’s the rhythm of a typical school day.

Yet beneath the everyday scene lies a promise, 60 years in the making: that a young man’s potential should never be defined by his family’s financial means. That promise is the living legacy of St. John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Christian Brothers, whose mission was clear more than 300 years ago: to provide a human and Christian education to the young, especially those most in need.

At De La Salle High School, that mission lives on, not just in classrooms or on playing fields, but in the school’s robust financial aid program.

A Mission Born from Sacrifice
When De La Salle High School opened in 1965, tuition was $200 a year. Even then, some families needed support to make a Catholic education possible. The Christian Brothers, inspired by St. John Baptist de La Salle’s vision, bridged the gap and subsidized the tuition themselves.

As the school grew, so did its commitment to accessibility. Early records show that in 1982, De La Salle provided $55,000 in financial aid to 1 in 14 students, on top of already subsidized tuition. That amount steadily increased over the years: $460,000 by 2000, $1.85 million in 2010, and $3.58 million in 2020. Through every change, the school has stayed true to its founder’s mission: that education is a right, not a privilege.

Every Student, Every Year 
Today, every student receives some level of tuition subsidy thanks to philanthropic support to the De La Salle Annual Fund, and one in three receives significant financial aid. This year alone, the school will award more than $4.7 million in aid.
 

“From opening opportunities to enabling futures, financial aid is a central requirement of being a Lasallian Catholic school, shared De La Salle President David Holquin. “Without it, we are a smaller, less diverse, and not fulfilling our mission from our Founder in 17th-century France. Every student deserves the opportunity to learn, develop, and find community regardless of financial circumstance, and we're proud that we offer more financial aid than many other tuition-charging schools.”

Community Support Makes It Possible
None of this would be possible without the generosity of the De La Salle community, alumni, parents, and friends, whose support ensures that financial aid remains strong and sustainable.

Key initiatives make a difference every year:

• The De La Salle Annual Fund, which provides critical unrestricted support for current student needs.
• The Bishop Cummins Scholarship Program, which benefits students with the greatest financial need.
• Family Endowments, a lasting gift that provides support for generations of Lasallians.

Through these programs, the community brings the Lasallian mission to life, making it possible for talented young men from all backgrounds to access a De La Salle education.

As the Bay Area’s cost of living rises, more families require support, and the De La Salle community continues to respond. Alumni, parents, and friends give back, recognizing the life-changing power of a Lasallian education.

You perform the work of ambassadors and ministers of Jesus Christ... by instructing the poor." - St. John Baptist de La Salle

More Than Aid, A Lasallian Value
Financial aid is not simply a financial transaction; it is a commitment, a reflection of concern for the poor and social justice, one of the five core Lasallian principles. It ensures an inclusive community where students from all backgrounds learn and grow together, united by shared values.

Many alumni who once received financial aid return as donors, paying forward the generosity that shaped their lives, a living cycle of the Lasallian mission in action.

As De La Salle High School celebrates its 60th anniversary, its commitment to accessibility remains unwavering. Tuition may rise, but the promise endures: for the school to support as many families as possible in receiving a De La Salle Education. 

It is a promise rooted in the vision of St. John Baptist de La Salle, who called on his followers to teach and uplift every young person, especially those most in need. Decades later, that mission continues, as every young man walks across the graduation stage ready to lead, serve, and carry forward the values of our founder.